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 $1,330 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $860 in Sabac, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,336 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,322 in Sabac, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,341 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,784 in Sabac, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 55% more than Sabac, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Sabac are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Sabac 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.02 MX$221

$8.48 RSD 850

53.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.25 MX$784

$28.35 RSD 2,842

63.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.59 MX$213

$7.05 RSD 706

78.58%

Cappuccino

$4.00 MX$67.9

$2.01 RSD 201

99.00%

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

$1.42 MX$24.08

$1.86 RSD 186

-23.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 MX$13.73

$1.44 RSD 144

-43.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.05 MX$51.7

$2.62 RSD 262

16.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.82 MX$116

$2.80 RSD 281

143.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 MX$29.04

$1.36 RSD 136

25.74%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 MX$37.62

$0.64 RSD 64.6

246.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 MX$29.13

$1.97 RSD 198

-12.69%

Eggs

$2.71 MX$45.99

$2.06 RSD 206

31.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.37 MX$159

$6.03 RSD 604

55.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.86 MX$150

$6.75 RSD 676

31.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.78 MX$217

$11.87 RSD 1,189

7.67%

Apples (1kg)

$3.13 MX$53.0

$1.28 RSD 129

144.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 MX$26.24

$1.89 RSD 189

-17.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$36.51

$1.48 RSD 149

45.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.35 MX$39.89

$1.99 RSD 199

18.09%

Potato (1kg)

$2.02 MX$34.23

$0.70 RSD 70.4

188.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$33.67

$0.35 RSD 35.22

468.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 MX$21.09

$1.04 RSD 105

19.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 MX$20.21

$0.45 RSD 44.66

164.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 MX$78.8

$3.83 RSD 383

21.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.47 MX$177

$7.90 RSD 792

32.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 MX$26.82

$0.67 RSD 66.7

135.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 MX$49.48

$1.03 RSD 103

183.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 MX$9.53

$1.09 RSD 109

-48.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.76 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.32 MX$90.2

$1.45 RSD 146

266.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.72 MX$63.0

$1.00 RSD 100

272.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 MX$97.9

$5.57 RSD 558

3.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MX$26.27

$1.88 RSD 189

-17.55%

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

$22.4K MX$379.1K

$31.7K RSD 3.2M

-29.49%

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

$25.6K MX$433.3K

$26.0K RSD 2.6M

-1.66%

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

$89.3 MX$1,513

$144 RSD 14.5K

-38.21%

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

$23.30 MX$395

$26.30 RSD 2,636

-11.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.72 MX$538

$19.89 RSD 1,993

59.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,165

$29.76 RSD 2,983

131.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.40 MX$498

$13.72 RSD 1,375

114.29%

Cinema Ticket

$5.06 MX$85.7

$5.63 RSD 564

-10.12%

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

$222 MX$3,765

$179 RSD 18.0K

23.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,293 MX$72.7K

$3,985 RSD 399.4K

7.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.21 MX$783

$63.9 RSD 6,400

-27.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.43 MX$753

$69.0 RSD 6,910

-35.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.5 MX$1,618

$59.6 RSD 5,968

60.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.5 MX$1,568

$121 RSD 12.1K

-23.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,069 MX$18.1K

$236 RSD 23.6K

353.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 MX$6,663

$157 RSD 15.7K

150.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,988 MX$33.7K

$354 RSD 35.4K

462.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,304 MX$22.1K

$266 RSD 26.6K

390.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,037 MX$68.4K

$1,953 RSD 195.8K

106.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,627 MX$112.3K

$1,564 RSD 156.7K

323.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$747 MX$12.7K

$964 RSD 96.7K

-22.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.6

4.84

139.67%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026

Last update for Sabac: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $236 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 29% 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 $46.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $28.00 in Sabac. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $191 – 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 55%, 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 $1,995 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,291 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 $1,330 in Playa del Carmen and $860 in Sabac. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $222 per month in Playa del Carmen and $179 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 $860, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,330. 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.