😐A single person spends $1,293 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $891 in Silistra, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,265 in Silistra, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,374 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,639 in Silistra, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 45% more than Silistra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Silistra are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen6% lower, Silistra35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Silistra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71MX$198
$10.77BGN 17.92
8.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.59MX$788
$26.00BGN 43.25
79.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65MX$197
$9.51BGN 15.82
22.50%
Cappuccino
$4.09MX$69.2
$1.76BGN 2.92
132.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37MX$23.23
$1.18BGN 1.96
16.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83MX$14.09
$0.84BGN 1.39
-1.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.35MX$56.7
$1.87BGN 3.11
79.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91MX$117
$2.03BGN 3.37
240.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Silistra
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73MX$29.20
$1.80BGN 2.99
-3.89%
White Bread(500g)
$2.26MX$38.21
$0.88BGN 1.47
156.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$29.91
$1.49BGN 2.47
18.79%
Eggs
$2.73MX$46.19
$2.42BGN 4.03
12.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.18MX$155
$9.55BGN 15.89
-3.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.92MX$151
$6.61BGN 11.00
34.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.60MX$213
$8.73BGN 14.52
44.33%
Apples(1kg)
$3.02MX$51.1
$1.32BGN 2.20
128.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57MX$26.55
$1.78BGN 2.96
-11.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13MX$35.93
$1.75BGN 2.92
21.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.28
$2.05BGN 3.41
10.24%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00MX$33.88
$1.00BGN 1.66
100.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06MX$34.90
$0.74BGN 1.23
178.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18MX$19.94
$0.61BGN 1.02
93.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.35
$0.68BGN 1.14
76.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.63MX$78.4
$3.85BGN 6.40
20.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.69MX$181
$5.37BGN 8.93
99.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.38
$1.13BGN 1.88
43.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$48.70
$1.74BGN 2.90
65.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Silistra
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.57MX$9.69
$0.92BGN 1.53
-38.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.83MX$504
$26.50BGN 44.09
12.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$92.1
$1.16BGN 1.93
369.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.70MX$62.6
$0.67BGN 1.12
452.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.98MX$101
$6.00BGN 9.99
-0.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.26
$1.49BGN 2.48
4.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3KMX$377.4K
$31.3KBGN 52.0K
-28.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KMX$438.7K
$21.5KBGN 35.8K
20.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Silistra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.1MX$1,507
$96.8BGN 161
-7.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04MX$423
$15.34BGN 25.53
63.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.50MX$532
$12.47BGN 20.75
152.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Silistra
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.8MX$1,146
$32.39BGN 53.9
109.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.92MX$489
$18.14BGN 30.17
59.43%
Cinema Ticket
$5.05MX$85.4
$7.01BGN 11.65
-27.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Silistra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$225MX$3,803
$236BGN 393
-4.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,222MX$71.4K
$2,403BGN 3,998
75.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Silistra
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44MX$802
$31.03BGN 51.6
52.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98MX$760
$19.83BGN 32.99
126.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.0MX$1,386
$66.9BGN 111
22.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1MX$1,557
$53.3BGN 88.7
72.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Silistra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,069MX$18.1K
$351BGN 584
204.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$405MX$6,852
$261BGN 434
55.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,935MX$32.7K
$351BGN 584
451.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,301MX$22.0K
$255BGN 424
410.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,995MX$67.5K
$1,333BGN 2,217
199.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,626MX$112.0K
$1,227BGN 2,042
439.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Silistra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$749MX$12.7K
$738BGN 1,228
1.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
2.99
282.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Last update for Silistra: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $351 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 1% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $26.00 in Silistra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $200 – 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 45%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,940 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,337 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 and in Silistra?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,293 in Playa del Carmen and $891 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 13% less in Silistra. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Silistra?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Silistra, where all-in costs run around $891, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared