😐A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,029 in Smederevo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,517 in Smederevo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,005 in Smederevo, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 26% more than Smederevo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Smederevo are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen3% lower, Smederevo23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Smederevo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$7.34RSD 739
59.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$720
$29.25RSD 2,941
42.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$8.15RSD 820
30.55%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.9
$1.80RSD 181
95.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.12
$1.79RSD 180
-15.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.84
$1.23RSD 124
-21.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$2.29RSD 230
28.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$2.65RSD 266
67.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Smederevo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.93
$1.32RSD 133
4.55%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.72
$0.71RSD 71.2
166.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.32
$1.81RSD 182
-9.39%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.34
$2.49RSD 250
0.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$7.89RSD 793
5.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$6.95RSD 698
20.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$11.90RSD 1,197
-9.83%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.04
$1.17RSD 118
122.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.20
$1.74RSD 175
-16.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.87
$1.47RSD 148
29.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.91
$1.39RSD 140
49.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.71
$0.95RSD 95.6
87.37%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.80
$1.12RSD 113
95.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.99
$0.59RSD 59.4
76.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.62
$0.56RSD 56.4
92.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.6
$4.15RSD 418
-1.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$5.48RSD 552
88.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.61
$0.71RSD 71.3
140.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.54
$1.08RSD 109
138.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Smederevo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$0.83RSD 83.2
-38.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$458
$28.18RSD 2,834
-6.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$0.97RSD 97.9
236.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.09
$0.42RSD 42.25
492.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.2
$5.05RSD 508
-35.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.61
$1.77RSD 178
-25.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.7K
$30.9KRSD 3.1M
-1.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$405.3K
$27.2KRSD 2.7M
-13.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Smederevo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,433
$141RSD 14.2K
-41.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$16.72RSD 1,682
32.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$22.54RSD 2,267
30.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Smederevo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$893
$31.06RSD 3,124
66.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
$16.23RSD 1,632
12.88%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.6
$4.97RSD 500
2.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Smederevo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,473
$238RSD 24.0K
-15.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$5,101RSD 513.0K
2.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Smederevo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$639
$90.5RSD 9,097
-59.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$47.02RSD 4,729
-15.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,357
$93.2RSD 9,371
-15.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,506
$103RSD 10.4K
-15.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Smederevo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$374RSD 37.6K
159.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,090
$298RSD 29.9K
57.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$559RSD 56.2K
193.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$411RSD 41.4K
196.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.3K
$1,876RSD 188.6K
110.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.4K
$1,408RSD 141.6K
361.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Smederevo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
7.45
53.29%
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 Smederevo: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $374 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $29.00 in Smederevo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $192 – 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 26%, 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 $1,543 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 vs Smederevo?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $1,029 in Smederevo. 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 7% less in Smederevo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Smederevo?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Smederevo, where all-in costs run around $1,029, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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