Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Sabac Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Sabac

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,215 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $837 in Sabac, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,144 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,274 in Sabac, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,072 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,711 in Sabac, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 45% more than Sabac, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Sabac are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 9% lower, Sabac 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.97 MX$197

$8.13 RSD 847

34.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.85 MX$806

$27.23 RSD 2,837

64.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.92 MX$214

$6.71 RSD 699

77.65%

Cappuccino

$3.80 MX$68.4

$1.92 RSD 200

97.92%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 MX$23.58

$1.83 RSD 191

-28.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 MX$15.39

$1.36 RSD 142

-36.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 MX$57.7

$2.61 RSD 272

22.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.01 MX$90.1

$2.59 RSD 270

93.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 MX$26.21

$1.27 RSD 133

14.96%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 MX$41.83

$0.62 RSD 64.1

275.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.93

$1.85 RSD 192

-22.16%

Eggs

$2.46 MX$44.25

$1.92 RSD 200

28.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.70 MX$138

$5.75 RSD 599

33.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.89 MX$142

$6.21 RSD 648

27.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.80 MX$230

$11.54 RSD 1,203

10.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 MX$52.4

$1.18 RSD 123

147.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 MX$25.56

$1.87 RSD 195

-24.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MX$46.12

$1.39 RSD 145

84.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.14 MX$38.42

$1.96 RSD 205

9.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.95 MX$35.00

$0.64 RSD 67.1

204.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 MX$34.80

$0.34 RSD 35.54

470.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 MX$20.69

$1.02 RSD 106

12.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 MX$21.95

$0.41 RSD 42.56

197.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.38 MX$78.7

$3.73 RSD 389

17.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.85 MX$177

$7.42 RSD 773

32.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 MX$27.64

$0.64 RSD 66.5

140.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 MX$48.81

$0.99 RSD 103

174.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 MX$9.44

$0.94 RSD 97.8

-44.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.42 MX$493

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.91 MX$88.3

$1.41 RSD 147

248.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.52 MX$63.3

$0.98 RSD 102

259.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.69 MX$102

$5.22 RSD 544

9.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$27.68

$1.82 RSD 189

-15.38%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.2K MX$381.8K

$30.8K RSD 3.2M

-31.02%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.5K MX$440.2K

$26.0K RSD 2.7M

-5.95%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.6 MX$1,503

$136 RSD 14.2K

-38.52%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$24.03 MX$432

$25.95 RSD 2,704

-7.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.33 MX$527

$19.27 RSD 2,008

52.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.9 MX$1,166

$29.50 RSD 3,074

119.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.46 MX$530

$11.61 RSD 1,210

153.75%

Cinema Ticket

$5.09 MX$91.4

$5.49 RSD 572

-7.29%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$208 MX$3,733

$173 RSD 18.0K

20.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,045 MX$72.7K

$3,890 RSD 405.3K

3.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.55 MX$801

$61.2 RSD 6,374

-27.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.06 MX$756

$66.8 RSD 6,964

-37.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.5 MX$1,358

$56.5 RSD 5,884

33.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.4 MX$1,642

$117 RSD 12.2K

-21.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 MX$17.7K

$232 RSD 24.2K

325.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$385 MX$6,924

$149 RSD 15.5K

158.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,713 MX$30.8K

$337 RSD 35.1K

408.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,108 MX$19.9K

$256 RSD 26.6K

333.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,016 MX$72.2K

$1,907 RSD 198.7K

110.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,247 MX$112.3K

$1,519 RSD 158.3K

311.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.6K

$935 RSD 97.4K

-18.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

4.84

136.57%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 4, 2026

Last update for Sabac: October 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Playa del Carmen versus $232 in Sabac. 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 23% higher in Sabac, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $27.00 in Sabac. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $260 vs $181 – making Sabac the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Sabac: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 45%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,823 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,255 in Sabac. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sabac, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,215 in Playa del Carmen and $837 in Sabac. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $208 per month in Playa del Carmen and $173 in Sabac. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sabac, where all-in costs run around $837, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,215. In Sabac it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sabac – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Sabac. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.