Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Rustavi

For one person, living is cheaper in Rustavi: $848 a month against $1,202 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $4,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Rustavi, Georgia
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,202
/mo nomad
Rustavi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$848
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Rustavi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Rustavi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,202 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $848 in Rustavi, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,202
  • Rustavi $848

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,263 in Rustavi, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Rustavi $1,263

A family of three spends $2,962 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,679 in Rustavi, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,962
  • Rustavi $1,679

Playa del Carmen costs about 42% more than Rustavi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Playa del Carmen and Rustavi are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 11% lower, Rustavi 37% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Rustavi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.67 MX$201
$10.20 ₾26.38
4.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.80 MX$824
$30.57 ₾79.1
43.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.79 MX$222
$10.62 ₾27.48
11.02%
Cappuccino
$3.79 MX$71.2
$1.99 ₾5.15
90.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 MX$24.41
$0.75 ₾1.95
73.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$15.69
$0.51 ₾1.32
62.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 MX$59.2
$1.24 ₾3.20
154.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$92.9
$1.98 ₾5.13
148.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Rustavi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.51
$1.73 ₾4.48
-18.50%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$41.32
$0.51 ₾1.31
331.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 MX$27.71
$1.22 ₾3.15
20.49%
Eggs
$2.50 MX$46.99
$2.34 ₾6.06
6.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.29 MX$137
$5.97 ₾15.44
22.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.95 MX$150
$4.89 ₾12.66
62.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.86 MX$242
$9.70 ₾25.10
32.58%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 MX$54.5
$0.98 ₾2.54
195.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 MX$26.03
$1.60 ₾4.14
-13.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.49 MX$46.88
$1.50 ₾3.88
66.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 MX$38.20
$1.09 ₾2.81
86.24%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$38.11
$0.77 ₾1.98
162.34%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 MX$35.82
$0.66 ₾1.70
187.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 MX$21.54
$1.26 ₾3.27
-9.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 MX$23.32
$0.70 ₾1.81
77.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$80.4
$3.22 ₾8.32
32.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.81 MX$185
$3.78 ₾9.77
159.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 MX$29.85
$1.58 ₾4.10
0.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 MX$51.7
$2.52 ₾6.52
9.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Rustavi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$9.69
$0.37 ₾0.95
37.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.39 MX$515
$11.35 ₾29.35
141.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.76 MX$89.6
$0.73 ₾1.90
552.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.25 MX$61.1
$0.37 ₾0.97
778.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$101
$3.92 ₾10.13
37.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 MX$28.76
$1.27 ₾3.28
20.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$399.2K
$23.5K ₾60.8K
-9.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$437.8K
$9,645 ₾25.0K
141.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Rustavi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.5 MX$1,571
$77.0 ₾199
8.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.19 MX$436
$7.84 ₾20.28
195.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.61 MX$520
$11.51 ₾29.78
139.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Rustavi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 MX$1,062
$27.33 ₾70.7
106.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.19 MX$531
$19.31 ₾49.97
45.99%
Cinema Ticket
$5.00 MX$94.1
$4.78 ₾12.37
4.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Rustavi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,897
$130 ₾337
58.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,231 MX$98.4K
$2,684 ₾6,946
94.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Rustavi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.45 MX$818
$57.1 ₾148
-23.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.54 MX$801
$40.57 ₾105
4.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.8 MX$1,369
$95.4 ₾247
-23.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,663
$85.7 ₾222
3.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Rustavi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$995 MX$18.7K
$275 ₾712
261.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$382 MX$7,197
$250 ₾646
53.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,674 MX$31.5K
$463 ₾1,197
261.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,081 MX$20.3K
$308 ₾796
251.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,909 MX$73.6K
$1,037 ₾2,684
276.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,138 MX$115.5K
$776 ₾2,008
690.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Rustavi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$832 MX$15.7K
$447 ₾1,156
86.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
13
-11.92%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: November 2, 2026

Last update for Rustavi: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$382
Rustavi
$250 34.7% $133
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$257
Rustavi
$172 33.3% $86
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$200
Rustavi
$153 23.8% $48
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$134
Rustavi
$96 28.3% $38
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$111
Rustavi
$125 12.8% $14
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$66
Rustavi
$37 44.5% $30
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Rustavi
$15 69.5% $35

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Playa del Carmen versus $275 in Rustavi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 86% higher in Playa del Carmen. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44 in Playa del Carmen versus $31 in Rustavi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $257 vs $172 – making Rustavi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇬🇪 Rustavi
🕒 Local time
00:23 12:23 AM
09:23 9:23 AM
9 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
132,333
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

GEL, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 18.82 MXN (100 MXN = 5.31 USD). 1 EUR = 21.05 MXN (100 MXN = 4.75 EUR).

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.387 USD). 1 EUR = 2.89 GEL (1 GEL = 0.346 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Rustavi 11,520 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Rustavi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Playa del Carmen vs Rustavi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rustavi cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 42%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,804 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,272 in Rustavi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Rustavi, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $275 there versus $995 in Playa del Carmen.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Rustavi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,202 in Playa del Carmen and $848 in Rustavi. That makes Rustavi about 29% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 59% less in Rustavi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,200 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Rustavi?
A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in Rustavi, where all-in costs run around $848, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,202. In Rustavi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Rustavi more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Rustavi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Rustavi. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?