😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $945 in Sabac, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,390 in Sabac, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,834 in Sabac, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 36% more than Sabac, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Sabac are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, Sabac29% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Sabac
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$8.64RSD 867
38.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$27.04RSD 2,713
58.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$9.70RSD 973
9.18%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$1.45RSD 146
149.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$1.73RSD 174
-15.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$1.16RSD 116
-18.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$2.34RSD 235
32.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$2.13RSD 214
109.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Sabac
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.36RSD 137
5.15%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$0.64RSD 64.2
193.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$1.99RSD 199
-18.09%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$2.30RSD 231
14.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$7.48RSD 750
9.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$6.98RSD 700
18.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$10.71RSD 1,075
3.64%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$1.35RSD 136
96.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$1.83RSD 184
-18.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$1.74RSD 175
14.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$2.31RSD 231
-9.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$1.10RSD 111
62.73%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$1.26RSD 127
73.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$1.06RSD 106
1.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.49RSD 49.11
112.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$4.09RSD 410
-2.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$7.15RSD 718
42.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$0.68RSD 68.0
154.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$2.13RSD 214
17.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Sabac
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$0.93RSD 93.7
-44.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$1.09RSD 109
188.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$0.45RSD 45.46
433.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$5.03RSD 505
-38.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.82RSD 183
-30.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$31.1KRSD 3.1M
-0.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$26.9KRSD 2.7M
-13.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Sabac
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$161RSD 16.1K
-49.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$19.33RSD 1,940
16.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$24.50RSD 2,458
21.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Sabac
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$24.09RSD 2,417
115.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$12.04RSD 1,208
55.07%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$6.83RSD 685
-27.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Sabac
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$183RSD 18.3K
8.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$4,009RSD 402.3K
31.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Sabac
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$63.3RSD 6,355
-42.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$56.5RSD 5,664
-29.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$116RSD 11.6K
-31.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$119RSD 11.9K
-25.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Sabac
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$235RSD 23.5K
310.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$175RSD 17.5K
166.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$350RSD 35.1K
355.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$259RSD 26.0K
367.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$2,004RSD 201.0K
96.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$1,586RSD 159.1K
306.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Sabac
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$986RSD 98.9K
-26.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
8
42.75%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para Sabac: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $235 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 37% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $27.00 in Sabac. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $201 – making Sabac the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Playa del Carmen vs Sabac: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Sabac cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 36%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,418 in Sabac. 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 Sabac, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Sabac?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $945 in Sabac. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $183 in Sabac. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Sabac?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sabac, where all-in costs run around $945, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Sabac it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Sabac more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Sabac?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.
Playa del Carmen vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado