Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Stavropol Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Stavropol

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $896 in Stavropol, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,416 in Stavropol, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,937 in Stavropol, rent included.

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

Both Playa del Carmen and Stavropol are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Stavropol 33% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Stavropol
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$209
$11.42 ₽897
4.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78 MX$728
$38.61 ₽3,033
8.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.75 MX$187
$7.80 ₽613
37.82%
Cappuccino
$3.50 MX$60.9
$2.20 ₽173
59.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.22
$1.15 ₽90.6
26.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 MX$15.41
$0.50 ₽39.12
76.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.3
$1.24 ₽97.8
137.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51 MX$78.6
$2.61 ₽205
72.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Stavropol
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$1.24 ₽97.8
15.32%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 MX$31.99
$0.50 ₽39.01
268.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$27.31
$1.15 ₽90.2
36.52%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.74
$1.57 ₽123
59.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.28 MX$144
$7.38 ₽580
12.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 MX$147
$4.49 ₽353
87.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.68 MX$186
$7.78 ₽611
37.28%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 MX$45.43
$1.43 ₽112
82.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$25.04
$1.93 ₽151
-25.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 MX$34.16
$1.53 ₽120
28.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$36.47
$2.67 ₽210
-21.72%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$32.24
$0.76 ₽59.9
143.42%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.74
$0.56 ₽43.61
287.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 MX$17.96
$1.22 ₽96.2
-15.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.70
$0.64 ₽49.91
67.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10 MX$71.4
$3.08 ₽242
33.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.17 MX$177
$7.08 ₽556
43.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$29.17
$0.73 ₽57.3
130.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 MX$43.98
$0.87 ₽68.5
190.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Stavropol
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.87
$0.52 ₽41.02
-1.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.04 MX$453
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.3
$1.01 ₽79.3
219.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.41 MX$41.88
$0.16 ₽12.91
1406.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.2
$6.18 ₽485
-47.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$23.00
$0.77 ₽60.9
71.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K MX$517.1K
$25.2K ₽2.0M
18.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K MX$412.0K
$39.4K ₽3.1M
-39.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Stavropol
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,428
$110 ₽8,628
-25.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95 MX$400
$6.84 ₽538
235.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11 MX$524
$5.77 ₽453
421.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Stavropol
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$905
$50.5 ₽3,964
2.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53 MX$323
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.98 MX$86.6
$5.13 ₽403
-2.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Stavropol
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,438
$191 ₽15.0K
3.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,336 MX$92.9K
$3,098 ₽243.4K
72.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Stavropol
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60 MX$620
$87.8 ₽6,900
-59.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33 MX$702
$47.15 ₽3,704
-14.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 MX$1,371
$114 ₽8,919
-30.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,549
$56.7 ₽4,452
56.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Stavropol
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$947 MX$16.5K
$332 ₽26.1K
185.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,254
$252 ₽19.8K
88.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,644 MX$28.6K
$581 ₽45.7K
182.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,211 MX$21.1K
$461 ₽36.3K
162.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,056 MX$70.6K
$2,169 ₽170.4K
86.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,470 MX$112.7K
$1,411 ₽110.9K
358.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Stavropol
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 MX$11.4K
$416 ₽32.7K
57.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
16.34
-30.11%

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 Stavropol: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $332 in Stavropol. 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 57% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $39.00 in Stavropol. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $170 – making Stavropol 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 Stavropol: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stavropol cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
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.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,344 in Stavropol. 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 Stavropol, 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 Stavropol?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $896 in Stavropol. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $197 per month in Playa del Carmen and $191 in Stavropol. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Stavropol?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Stavropol, where all-in costs run around $896, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Stavropol it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Stavropol more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Stavropol – 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 Stavropol?
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 Stavropol. 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.

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