😐A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,036 in Smederevo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,506 in Smederevo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,976 in Smederevo, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 21% more than Smederevo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Smederevo are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen6% lower, Smederevo22% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Smederevo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$7.36RSD 753
62.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
$29.43RSD 3,009
41.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$8.26RSD 844
30.15%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$1.81RSD 185
93.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$1.79RSD 183
-18.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
$1.21RSD 124
-27.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
$2.28RSD 233
29.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
$2.74RSD 281
64.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Smederevo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.29RSD 132
10.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$0.66RSD 67.5
178.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
$1.87RSD 191
-16.04%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$2.40RSD 245
4.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$7.93RSD 811
4.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$6.97RSD 713
20.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$11.85RSD 1,212
-9.87%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
$1.19RSD 122
119.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
$1.73RSD 177
-16.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
$1.46RSD 150
34.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
$1.37RSD 140
52.55%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
$1.02RSD 104
81.37%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
$1.10RSD 112
97.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
$0.59RSD 60.4
74.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$0.62RSD 63.1
72.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$4.03RSD 412
1.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
$5.39RSD 551
88.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
$0.71RSD 72.4
136.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
$1.07RSD 109
136.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Smederevo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
$0.82RSD 83.5
-37.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
$27.65RSD 2,827
-5.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$1.02RSD 104
216.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
$0.45RSD 46.26
435.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
$5.02RSD 513
-35.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$1.82RSD 186
-27.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
$30.8KRSD 3.2M
-3.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$27.2KRSD 2.8M
-13.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Smederevo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$138RSD 14.1K
-40.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
$16.88RSD 1,726
35.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$22.59RSD 2,309
33.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Smederevo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
$30.55RSD 3,123
70.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
$16.40RSD 1,677
12.99%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$4.88RSD 499
2.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Smederevo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
$241RSD 24.6K
-18.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
$5,063RSD 517.7K
5.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Smederevo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
$88.6RSD 9,063
-59.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$47.05RSD 4,811
-14.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
$96.7RSD 9,885
-18.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
$104RSD 10.6K
-14.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Smederevo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
$373RSD 38.2K
153.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
$293RSD 29.9K
61.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
$568RSD 58.1K
189.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
$410RSD 41.9K
195.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
$1,860RSD 190.2K
118.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.7K
$1,567RSD 160.2K
312.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Smederevo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
-
-
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Smederevo: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $373 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 $191 – 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 21%, 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 $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,554 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 $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $1,036 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 6% less in Smederevo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
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 $1,036, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. 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