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 $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $904 in Stara Zagora, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,414 in Stara Zagora, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,925 in Stara Zagora, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 40% more than Stara Zagora, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Stara Zagora are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 7% lower, Stara Zagora 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.60 MX$200

$10.80 BGN 17.97

7.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.11 MX$812

$52.3 BGN 87.0

-9.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.88 MX$205

$9.43 BGN 15.69

25.98%

Cappuccino

$3.98 MX$68.6

$2.29 BGN 3.82

73.80%

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

$1.43 MX$24.60

$1.56 BGN 2.59

-8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 MX$14.22

$0.92 BGN 1.53

-10.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$55.0

$2.32 BGN 3.86

37.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

$2.10 BGN 3.49

223.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.89

$1.86 BGN 3.09

-9.68%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 MX$37.88

$0.89 BGN 1.49

147.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.45

$1.51 BGN 2.51

13.25%

Eggs

$2.74 MX$47.26

$2.34 BGN 3.89

17.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MX$165

$9.34 BGN 15.54

2.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 MX$155

$6.81 BGN 11.34

32.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.81 MX$221

$8.52 BGN 14.18

50.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 MX$49.81

$1.36 BGN 2.26

112.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.81

$1.68 BGN 2.79

-10.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.03

$1.75 BGN 2.91

22.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.96

$1.95 BGN 3.24

15.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 MX$34.15

$1.02 BGN 1.70

94.12%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.30

$0.79 BGN 1.31

151.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 MX$21.28

$0.58 BGN 0.96

112.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.63

$0.68 BGN 1.14

76.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 MX$78.5

$3.90 BGN 6.49

16.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$179

$5.16 BGN 8.59

100.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.91

$1.18 BGN 1.97

37.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.67

$1.79 BGN 2.97

60.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.35

$0.93 BGN 1.55

-35.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$497

$18.62 BGN 30.97

54.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 MX$92.9

$1.33 BGN 2.21

305.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.3

$0.68 BGN 1.13

448.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.5

$12.02 BGN 20.00

-52.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.48

$1.58 BGN 2.63

-2.53%

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

$22.5K MX$388.8K

$30.8K BGN 51.2K

-26.72%

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

$26.1K MX$449.3K

$20.9K BGN 34.9K

24.38%

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

$91.4 MX$1,576

$94.5 BGN 157

-3.25%

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

$25.20 MX$435

$14.98 BGN 24.92

68.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.24 MX$539

$12.50 BGN 20.79

149.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,159

$27.89 BGN 46.40

140.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$502

$21.77 BGN 36.21

33.72%

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$83.8

$8.89 BGN 14.79

-45.33%

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

$224 MX$3,856

$239 BGN 397

-6.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.9K

$2,395 BGN 3,984

76.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 MX$812

$31.86 BGN 53.0

47.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 MX$764

$19.81 BGN 32.95

123.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,381

$65.6 BGN 109

22.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 MX$1,598

$52.8 BGN 87.9

75.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 MX$18.3K

$299 BGN 497

255.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MX$6,728

$263 BGN 438

48.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 MX$37.1K

$516 BGN 858

316.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 MX$21.9K

$407 BGN 677

212.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$69.0K

$1,496 BGN 2,488

167.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.1K

$1,101 BGN 1,831

490.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.1K

$1,086 BGN 1,807

-30.20%

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: September 12, 2026

Last update for Stara Zagora: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $299 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 43% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $52.0 in Stara Zagora. Groceries tell a different story – $276 in Playa del Carmen vs $199 in Stara Zagora – so Stara Zagora wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 40%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,356 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 $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $904 in Stara Zagora. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 55% 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 $904, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. 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.