😐A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $951 in Stary Oskol, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,488 in Stary Oskol, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,025 in Stary Oskol, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 33% more than Stary Oskol, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Stary Oskol are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Stary Oskol29% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Stary Oskol
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$204
$9.49₽757
23.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$731
$37.55₽2,995
11.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$183
$5.57₽444
88.69%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.5
$2.37₽189
51.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.31
$1.09₽86.8
38.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.96
$0.52₽41.71
76.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.6
$1.37₽109
116.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.9
$2.53₽202
74.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Stary Oskol
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.35
$1.15₽91.7
21.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.87
$0.69₽55.3
172.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$27.19
$1.43₽114
9.09%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.50
$1.73₽138
50.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$145
$10.91₽870
-23.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$146
$4.79₽382
74.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$189
$8.69₽693
24.97%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$47.31
$1.74₽139
55.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.25
$1.89₽151
-20.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.67
$1.99₽159
-6.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.19
$2.65₽212
-17.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.40
$0.79₽63.0
135.44%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.90
$0.70₽56.0
218.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.63
$1.34₽107
-20.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.94
$0.72₽57.5
51.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$73.0
$2.88₽230
45.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$182
$5.81₽464
79.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.91
$0.95₽75.5
74.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.56
$1.89₽151
38.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Stary Oskol
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.45
$0.49₽39.40
10.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$456
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.7
$1.85₽148
66.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.94
$0.33₽26.19
627.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.5
$6.38₽509
-50.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.87
$0.78₽62.1
67.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$519.9K
$34.4K₽2.7M
-13.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$406.8K
$36.2K₽2.9M
-35.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Stary Oskol
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,418
$111₽8,821
-26.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$393
$6.04₽482
273.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$524
$7.74₽617
288.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Stary Oskol
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$923
$35.73₽2,850
48.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$321
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.8
$5.13₽409
-4.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Stary Oskol
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,502
$319₽25.5K
-37.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$90.2K
$6,983₽557.0K
-25.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Stary Oskol
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$627
$68.6₽5,474
-47.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$700
$44.72₽3,568
-10.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,390
$113₽9,020
-29.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,508
$108₽8,655
-20.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Stary Oskol
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$17.1K
$451₽35.9K
117.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,206
$309₽24.6K
52.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.8K
$760₽60.6K
117.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$21.0K
$515₽41.1K
133.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$69.0K
$2,580₽205.8K
53.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$115.2K
$1,666₽132.9K
296.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Stary Oskol
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
15.33
-25.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Last update for Stary Oskol: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $451 in Stary Oskol. 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 $38.00 in Stary Oskol. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $193 – making Stary Oskol 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 Stary Oskol: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stary Oskol cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 33%, 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 $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,426 in Stary Oskol. 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 Stary Oskol, 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 Stary Oskol?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $951 in Stary Oskol. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $319 in Stary Oskol. 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 Stary Oskol?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Stary Oskol, where all-in costs run around $951, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Stary Oskol it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Stary Oskol more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Stary Oskol – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Stary Oskol. 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