๐A single person spends $1,262 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,146 in Serpukhov, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $2,158 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,791 in Serpukhov, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $3,054 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,437 in Serpukhov, rent included.
๐Playa del Carmen costs about 10% more than Serpukhov, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
๐Both Playa del Carmen and Serpukhov are more affordable than the global median โ Playa del Carmen6% lower, Serpukhov15% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Serpukhov
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61MX$201
$12.77โฝ971
-9.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$742
$57.1โฝ4,345
-25.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.60MX$184
$6.48โฝ493
63.58%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.3
$3.29โฝ250
9.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.21
$1.39โฝ106
4.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90MX$15.58
$0.66โฝ50.5
36.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$1.42โฝ108
113.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56MX$79.2
$4.37โฝ332
4.35%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Serpukhov
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45MX$25.20
$1.32โฝ101
9.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83MX$31.72
$0.84โฝ64.0
117.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.92
$1.76โฝ134
-8.52%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.05
$1.48โฝ113
71.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.54MX$148
$12.99โฝ988
-34.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.47MX$147
$4.48โฝ341
89.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$189
$11.91โฝ906
-8.82%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.37
$1.90โฝ144
43.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.91
$2.01โฝ153
-25.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94MX$33.73
$2.29โฝ174
-15.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.57
$4.19โฝ318
-48.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.05
$0.98โฝ74.6
88.78%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.00
$0.85โฝ64.6
157.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.62
$1.64โฝ125
-34.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.81
$0.74โฝ56.6
45.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06MX$70.5
$3.13โฝ238
29.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.46MX$182
$6.44โฝ490
62.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65MX$28.71
$0.87โฝ66.1
89.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55MX$44.23
$2.34โฝ178
8.97%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Serpukhov
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MX$9.65
$0.49โฝ37.28
14.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.20MX$455
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$54.5
$2.57โฝ196
22.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.37MX$41.17
$0.47โฝ35.80
404.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.2
$6.52โฝ496
-50.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.81
$0.80โฝ60.7
63.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5KMX$530.2K
$38.5Kโฝ2.9M
-20.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$413.6K
$36.3Kโฝ2.8M
-34.38%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Serpukhov
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.1MX$1,443
$153โฝ11.6K
-45.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15MX$385
$7.80โฝ593
183.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37MX$510
$7.77โฝ591
277.99%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Serpukhov
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.2MX$889
$35.21โฝ2,678
45.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69MX$324
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.89MX$84.9
$6.37โฝ485
-23.23%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Serpukhov
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$199MX$3,449
$329โฝ25.0K
-39.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,207MX$90.4K
$7,016โฝ533.6K
-25.78%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Serpukhov
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93MX$624
$88.0โฝ6,695
-59.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39MX$684
$52.7โฝ4,008
-25.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.3MX$1,394
$134โฝ10.2K
-40.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6MX$1,520
$165โฝ12.5K
-46.92%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Serpukhov
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.7K
$441โฝ33.5K
118.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482MX$8,370
$301โฝ22.9K
60.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,645MX$28.6K
$761โฝ57.9K
116.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,192MX$20.7K
$510โฝ38.8K
133.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,957MX$68.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,513MX$113.1K
-
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Serpukhov
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$726MX$12.6K
$1,182โฝ89.9K
-38.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
10.5
8.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026
Last update for Serpukhov: April 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $441 in Serpukhov. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐ฐSalaries run about 63% higher in Serpukhov, which reinforces the cost advantage โ you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $57 in Serpukhov. Groceries tell a different story โ $253 in Playa del Carmen vs $225 in Serpukhov โ so Serpukhov wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Serpukhov: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Serpukhov cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes โ Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,894 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,719 in Serpukhov. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Serpukhov, 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 Serpukhov?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,262 in Playa del Carmen and $1,146 in Serpukhov. The difference isn't just one category โ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $199 per month in Playa del Carmen and $329 in Serpukhov. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Serpukhov?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Serpukhov, where all-in costs run around $1,146, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,262. In Serpukhov it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Serpukhov more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Serpukhov โ 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 Serpukhov. 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 other spots: cost of living compared