😐A single person spends $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,009 in Smederevo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,486 in Smederevo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,362 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,963 in Smederevo, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 29% more than Smederevo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Smederevo are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Smederevo27% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Smederevo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96MX$203
$8.16RSD 822
46.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.38MX$804
$34.15RSD 3,442
38.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.75MX$199
$9.83RSD 990
19.53%
Cappuccino
$4.12MX$70.0
$1.76RSD 177
134.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.74
$1.96RSD 197
-28.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.48
$1.87RSD 189
-51.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21MX$54.4
$2.13RSD 215
50.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07MX$120
$2.54RSD 256
178.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Smederevo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.44
$1.12RSD 113
50.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.15MX$36.48
$0.57RSD 57.7
277.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$30.10
$1.68RSD 170
5.36%
Eggs
$2.82MX$47.76
$2.43RSD 245
16.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20MX$156
$7.78RSD 784
18.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.23MX$157
$6.07RSD 612
52.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.64MX$214
$10.76RSD 1,085
17.47%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$50.1
$1.13RSD 114
161.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58MX$26.79
$1.70RSD 172
-7.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22MX$37.70
$1.53RSD 154
45.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.09
$2.07RSD 209
14.01%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.81
$0.79RSD 79.4
151.90%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98MX$33.58
$0.75RSD 76.0
164.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$21.04
$0.70RSD 70.8
77.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21MX$20.55
$0.58RSD 59.0
108.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60MX$78.1
$4.54RSD 457
1.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.52MX$178
$5.74RSD 578
83.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69MX$28.70
$0.72RSD 72.8
134.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77MX$47.06
$1.29RSD 130
114.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Smederevo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.22
$1.02RSD 103
-41.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.70MX$504
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.24MX$88.8
$1.84RSD 186
184.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.65MX$61.9
$0.62RSD 62.2
488.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$98.1
$8.45RSD 852
-31.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.09
$1.90RSD 192
-18.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$386.8K
$31.8KRSD 3.2M
-28.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KMX$437.9K
$25.1KRSD 2.5M
2.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Smederevo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$90.7MX$1,538
$161RSD 16.2K
-43.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19MX$427
$20.66RSD 2,083
21.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75MX$539
$24.08RSD 2,427
31.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Smederevo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,167
$30.85RSD 3,109
122.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37MX$498
$15.14RSD 1,526
93.99%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$82.5
$4.83RSD 487
0.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Smederevo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$226MX$3,828
$255RSD 25.7K
-11.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,194MX$71.1K
$5,201RSD 524.2K
-19.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Smederevo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38MX$804
$89.9RSD 9,061
-47.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45MX$737
$39.48RSD 3,979
10.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.2MX$1,361
$104RSD 10.5K
-22.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4MX$1,550
$114RSD 11.5K
-20.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Smederevo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,086MX$18.4K
$348RSD 35.1K
211.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$409MX$6,933
$289RSD 29.1K
41.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,972MX$33.5K
$516RSD 52.1K
281.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,281MX$21.7K
$433RSD 43.7K
195.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,046MX$68.6K
$2,422RSD 244.1K
67.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,704MX$113.7K
$1,710RSD 172.3K
292.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Smederevo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$773MX$13.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
5.11
124.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Last update for Smederevo: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $348 in Smederevo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $34.00 in Smederevo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $278 vs $183 – making Smederevo 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 Smederevo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Smederevo cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 29%, 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 $1,958 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,514 in Smederevo. 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 Smederevo, 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 Smederevo?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,305 in Playa del Carmen and $1,009 in Smederevo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $226 per month in Playa del Carmen and $255 in Smederevo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Smederevo?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Smederevo, where all-in costs run around $1,009, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Smederevo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Smederevo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Smederevo – 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 Smederevo?
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 Smederevo. 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