😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,197 in Varna, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,871 in Varna, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,545 in Varna, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 8% more than Varna, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Varna are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, Varna11% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Varna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$208
$11.83BGN 19.76
0.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$744
$48.05BGN 80.2
-11.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$184
$9.08BGN 15.17
16.63%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.0
$2.52BGN 4.21
43.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.54
$1.75BGN 2.92
-16.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.41
$1.34BGN 2.23
-29.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$53.8
$3.02BGN 5.04
2.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$77.6
$2.88BGN 4.81
54.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Varna
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.80
$1.87BGN 3.12
-23.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.79
$1.08BGN 1.80
74.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.34
$2.54BGN 4.24
-35.83%
Eggs
$2.64MX$45.99
$3.32BGN 5.54
-20.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$143
$10.96BGN 18.31
-25.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$144
$8.13BGN 13.57
1.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$193
$12.21BGN 20.40
-9.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.14
$1.67BGN 2.79
58.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.11
$2.04BGN 3.40
-26.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.59
$1.80BGN 3.00
10.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.13
$2.68BGN 4.48
-22.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.11
$1.15BGN 1.92
55.65%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$37.87
$1.14BGN 1.91
91.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.73
$1.04BGN 1.73
3.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.04
$0.74BGN 1.24
40.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.1
$3.85BGN 6.42
3.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$178
$7.64BGN 12.75
33.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.04
$1.11BGN 1.85
55.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.46
$1.84BGN 3.07
35.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Varna
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.02
$1.15BGN 1.91
-54.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$469
$29.53BGN 49.32
-8.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$54.7
$1.35BGN 2.25
132.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.80
$0.67BGN 1.11
258.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$53.7
$12.27BGN 20.49
-74.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.16
$1.54BGN 2.57
-17.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$537.3K
$32.9KBGN 54.9K
-6.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$405.7K
$28.8KBGN 48.2K
-19.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Varna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,427
$124BGN 207
-33.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$391
$18.70BGN 31.23
20.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$516
$15.83BGN 26.43
87.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Varna
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$903
$40.64BGN 67.9
27.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$325
$14.50BGN 24.21
28.76%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$86.5
$8.61BGN 14.37
-42.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Varna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,442
$412BGN 688
-51.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$91.7K
$5,541BGN 9,254
-4.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Varna
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$632
$62.0BGN 104
-41.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$697
$33.87BGN 56.6
18.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,390
$91.6BGN 153
-12.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,547
$102BGN 170
-12.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Varna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.8K
$506BGN 846
90.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,086
$390BGN 652
19.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.8K
$895BGN 1,495
78.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.0K
$639BGN 1,067
89.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$68.6K
$3,152BGN 5,264
25.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.2K
$2,018BGN 3,371
219.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Varna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.5K
$1,222BGN 2,040
-41.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4.71
142.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Last update for Varna: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $506 in Varna. 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 70% higher in Varna, 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $48.00 in Varna. Groceries tell a different story – $251 in Playa del Carmen vs $248 in Varna – so Varna 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 Varna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Varna cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 8%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,795 in Varna. 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 Varna, 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 Varna?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $1,197 in Varna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 9% less in Varna. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Varna?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Varna, where all-in costs run around $1,197, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Varna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Varna more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Varna – 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 Varna?
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 Varna. 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