😐A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $907 in Stavropol, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,425 in Stavropol, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,942 in Stavropol, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 43% more than Stavropol, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Stavropol are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen3% lower, Stavropol32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Stavropol
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$11.32₽826
3.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$720
$38.30₽2,795
8.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$7.52₽549
41.49%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.9
$2.25₽165
56.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.12
$1.20₽87.9
25.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.84
$0.52₽38.18
86.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$1.30₽95.1
126.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$2.47₽181
80.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Stavropol
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.93
$1.24₽90.3
11.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.72
$0.52₽38.06
263.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.32
$1.15₽83.6
42.61%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.34
$1.51₽110
66.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$7.27₽531
14.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$4.60₽336
81.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$7.54₽551
42.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.04
$1.42₽103
83.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.20
$1.94₽142
-24.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.87
$1.60₽117
18.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.91
$2.63₽192
-20.91%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.71
$0.77₽55.9
131.17%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.80
$0.56₽40.63
291.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.99
$1.18₽85.8
-11.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.62
$0.67₽49.03
61.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.6
$3.24₽236
25.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$7.83₽571
31.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.61
$0.68₽49.68
151.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.54
$0.93₽67.7
177.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Stavropol
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$0.53₽38.81
-3.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$458
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$1.01₽73.7
222.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.09
$0.17₽12.23
1364.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.2
$6.22₽454
-47.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.61
$0.77₽56.0
70.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.7K
$25.7K₽1.9M
17.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$405.3K
$40.1K₽2.9M
-41.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Stavropol
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,433
$112₽8,172
-25.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$6.71₽490
231.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$5.72₽418
412.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Stavropol
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$893
$50.9₽3,715
1.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.6
$5.04₽368
0.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Stavropol
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,473
$194₽14.2K
3.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$3,037₽221.6K
71.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Stavropol
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$639
$87.9₽6,418
-58.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$48.56₽3,545
-18.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,357
$115₽8,391
-31.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,506
$57.9₽4,228
50.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Stavropol
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$341₽24.9K
184.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,090
$252₽18.4K
85.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$583₽42.5K
181.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$460₽33.6K
165.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.3K
$2,328₽169.9K
69.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.4K
$1,533₽111.9K
323.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Stavropol
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
$446₽32.6K
48.86%
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: June 2, 2026
Last update for Stavropol: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $341 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 49% 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 $38.00 in Stavropol. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $171 – 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 43%, 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 $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,360 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 vs Stavropol?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $907 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 $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $194 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 Playa del Carmen or Stavropol?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Stavropol, where all-in costs run around $907, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared