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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $922 in Silistra, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,357 in Silistra, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,792 in Silistra, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 41% more than Silistra, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Silistra are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Silistra 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Silistra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$10.74 BGN 17.86
9.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$721
$24.98 BGN 41.56
66.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$8.98 BGN 14.94
18.49%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$61.0
$1.81 BGN 3.02
94.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.17
$1.20 BGN 2.00
25.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.87
$0.67 BGN 1.11
44.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.1
$1.87 BGN 3.12
57.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.2
$2.57 BGN 4.28
73.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Silistra
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.97
$1.69 BGN 2.80
-18.34%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.78
$0.90 BGN 1.51
110.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.37
$1.95 BGN 3.24
-15.90%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.42
$3.29 BGN 5.47
-23.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$9.20 BGN 15.31
-9.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$7.75 BGN 12.89
7.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
$11.70 BGN 19.46
-8.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.12
$1.93 BGN 3.20
34.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.25
$2.03 BGN 3.39
-28.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.94
$2.08 BGN 3.46
-8.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.98
$2.48 BGN 4.13
-16.13%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.77
$1.43 BGN 2.38
24.48%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.87
$1.36 BGN 2.26
61.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$18.02
$1.05 BGN 1.75
-0.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.66
$0.76 BGN 1.27
42.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.7
$3.70 BGN 6.15
10.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$179
$5.39 BGN 8.96
91.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.67
$0.96 BGN 1.60
78.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.63
$1.75 BGN 2.92
47.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Silistra
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.83
$0.57 BGN 0.95
-10.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$459
$26.46 BGN 44.02
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.5
$1.20 BGN 1.99
171.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.17
$0.68 BGN 1.13
266.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.3
$5.86 BGN 9.74
-44.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.65
$1.53 BGN 2.55
-14.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$524.7K
$31.9K BGN 53.1K
-5.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$406.0K
$25.8K BGN 43.0K
-9.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Silistra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,436
$93.7 BGN 156
-11.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$385
$16.47 BGN 27.41
34.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$508
$13.85 BGN 23.04
111.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Silistra
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$895
$31.88 BGN 53.0
61.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
$14.76 BGN 24.56
24.12%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.8
$7.25 BGN 12.06
-30.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Silistra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,480
$234 BGN 390
-14.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.3K
$4,177 BGN 6,949
24.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Silistra
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$640
$58.6 BGN 97.5
-36.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$689
$29.77 BGN 49.53
33.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,360
$70.9 BGN 118
10.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,509
$70.4 BGN 117
23.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Silistra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.9K
$233 BGN 388
317.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,105
$206 BGN 342
127.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$340 BGN 566
382.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.2K
$253 BGN 420
383.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.4K
$1,340 BGN 2,229
194.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.6K
$1,078 BGN 1,793
502.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Silistra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
$752 BGN 1,252
-11.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
4.57
149.89%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Silistra: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $233 in Silistra. 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 13% higher in Silistra, 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $25.00 in Silistra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $230 – making Silistra 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 Silistra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Silistra cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 41%, 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 $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,383 in Silistra. 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 Silistra, 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 Silistra?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $922 in Silistra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 0% less in Silistra. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Silistra?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Silistra, where all-in costs run around $922, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Silistra it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Silistra more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Silistra – 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 Silistra?
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 Silistra. 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.

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