😐A single person spends $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,010 in Vladikavkaz, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,531 in Vladikavkaz, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,362 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,052 in Vladikavkaz, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 29% more than Vladikavkaz, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Vladikavkaz are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Vladikavkaz27% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Vladikavkaz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96MX$203
$9.35₽786
27.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.38MX$804
$33.20₽2,791
42.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.75MX$199
$5.39₽453
118.00%
Cappuccino
$4.12MX$70.0
$2.68₽225
53.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.74
$1.10₽92.4
27.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.48
$0.53₽44.17
71.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21MX$54.4
$1.60₽135
100.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07MX$120
$3.03₽255
133.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Vladikavkaz
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.44
$1.09₽91.4
54.13%
White Bread(500g)
$2.15MX$36.48
$0.72₽60.2
198.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$30.10
$1.14₽96.2
55.26%
Eggs
$2.82MX$47.76
$1.52₽128
85.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20MX$156
$10.47₽880
-12.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.23MX$157
$5.58₽469
65.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.64MX$214
$10.93₽919
15.65%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$50.1
$1.85₽156
59.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58MX$26.79
$1.76₽148
-10.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22MX$37.70
$1.56₽131
42.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.09
$3.01₽253
-21.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.81
$0.73₽61.4
172.60%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98MX$33.58
$0.63₽53.1
214.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$21.04
$1.20₽101
3.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21MX$20.55
$0.78₽65.2
55.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60MX$78.1
$3.09₽260
48.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.52MX$178
$6.92₽582
52.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69MX$28.70
$1.00₽84.1
69.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77MX$47.06
$2.10₽176
31.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Vladikavkaz
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.22
$0.53₽44.58
13.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.70MX$504
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.24MX$88.8
$2.25₽189
132.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.65MX$61.9
$0.36₽30.18
913.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$98.1
$4.85₽408
19.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.09
$0.75₽63.1
105.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$386.8K
$33.8K₽2.8M
-32.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KMX$437.9K
$32.3K₽2.7M
-20.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Vladikavkaz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$90.7MX$1,538
$118₽9,932
-23.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19MX$427
$5.50₽462
358.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75MX$539
$7.55₽635
320.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Vladikavkaz
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,167
$35.53₽2,986
93.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37MX$498
$24.22₽2,036
21.26%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$82.5
$5.71₽480
-14.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Vladikavkaz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$226MX$3,828
$292₽24.5K
-22.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,194MX$71.1K
$6,294₽529.0K
-33.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Vladikavkaz
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38MX$804
$64.3₽5,403
-26.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45MX$737
$41.28₽3,469
5.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.2MX$1,361
$122₽10.3K
-34.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4MX$1,550
$98.2₽8,255
-6.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Vladikavkaz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,086MX$18.4K
$517₽43.5K
109.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$409MX$6,933
$294₽24.7K
39.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,972MX$33.5K
$872₽73.3K
126.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,281MX$21.7K
$456₽38.4K
180.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,046MX$68.6K
$2,552₽214.5K
58.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,704MX$113.7K
$1,646₽138.3K
307.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Vladikavkaz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$773MX$13.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
21
-45.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Last update for Vladikavkaz: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $517 in Vladikavkaz. 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $33.00 in Vladikavkaz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $278 vs $203 – making Vladikavkaz 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 Vladikavkaz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vladikavkaz cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 29%, 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 $1,958 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,515 in Vladikavkaz. 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 Vladikavkaz, 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 Vladikavkaz?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,305 in Playa del Carmen and $1,010 in Vladikavkaz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $226 per month in Playa del Carmen and $292 in Vladikavkaz. 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 Vladikavkaz?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Vladikavkaz, where all-in costs run around $1,010, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Vladikavkaz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Vladikavkaz more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Vladikavkaz – 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 Vladikavkaz?
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 Vladikavkaz. 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