Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Stara Zagora Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Stara Zagora

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $864 in Stara Zagora, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,330 in Stara Zagora, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,796 in Stara Zagora, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 50% more than Stara Zagora, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Stara Zagora are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Stara Zagora 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$8.82 BGN 14.68

32.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$721

$34.74 BGN 57.8

19.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$8.99 BGN 14.95

18.35%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$61.0

$1.87 BGN 3.11

88.24%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 MX$26.17

$1.27 BGN 2.11

18.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.87

$0.73 BGN 1.22

32.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.1

$1.17 BGN 1.94

152.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.2

$2.02 BGN 3.35

120.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.97

$1.86 BGN 3.09

-25.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.78

$0.78 BGN 1.29

142.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.37

$1.54 BGN 2.56

6.49%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.42

$2.25 BGN 3.74

11.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$145

$9.15 BGN 15.21

-8.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$145

$7.52 BGN 12.51

10.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$8.65 BGN 14.39

24.05%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.12

$1.37 BGN 2.27

89.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.25

$1.66 BGN 2.76

-12.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.94

$1.88 BGN 3.13

1.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.98

$2.14 BGN 3.55

-2.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.77

$1.01 BGN 1.67

76.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.87

$0.85 BGN 1.42

157.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$18.02

$0.57 BGN 0.95

82.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.66

$0.75 BGN 1.24

44.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.7

$3.84 BGN 6.39

6.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$179

$5.34 BGN 8.88

93.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.67

$1.22 BGN 2.03

40.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.63

$2.17 BGN 3.62

18.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.83

$0.92 BGN 1.54

-44.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$459

$18.95 BGN 31.52

39.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.5

$1.38 BGN 2.29

136.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.17

$0.70 BGN 1.17

255.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.3

$11.66 BGN 19.39

-72.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.65

$1.54 BGN 2.55

-14.94%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.3K MX$524.7K

$24.7K BGN 41.0K

22.84%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.4K MX$406.0K

$17.9K BGN 29.8K

30.62%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.9 MX$1,436

$104 BGN 173

-20.17%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.22 MX$385

$15.07 BGN 25.06

47.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$508

$11.04 BGN 18.36

165.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$895

$19.66 BGN 32.70

162.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

$17.48 BGN 29.08

4.81%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.8

$7.78 BGN 12.94

-34.83%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$201 MX$3,480

$232 BGN 386

-13.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.3K

$2,361 BGN 3,927

120.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$640

$38.22 BGN 63.6

-3.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$689

$18.85 BGN 31.36

111.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,360

$76.1 BGN 127

3.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,509

$75.7 BGN 126

15.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.9K

$244 BGN 406

298.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,105

$232 BGN 386

101.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$399 BGN 663

311.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.2K

$368 BGN 612

231.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.4K

$1,508 BGN 2,508

161.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.6K

$1,120 BGN 1,863

480.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

$1,062 BGN 1,767

-37.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

3.4

235.88%

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 Stara Zagora: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $244 in Stara Zagora. 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 60% higher in Stara Zagora, 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 $35.00 in Stara Zagora. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $204 – making Stara Zagora 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 Stara Zagora: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 50%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,296 in Stara Zagora. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Stara Zagora, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $864 in Stara Zagora. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 40% less in Stara Zagora. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Stara Zagora, where all-in costs run around $864, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Stara Zagora it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Stara Zagora – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Stara Zagora. 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.