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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $844 in Volgograd, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,340 in Volgograd, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,362 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,836 in Volgograd, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 55% more than Volgograd, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Volgograd are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Volgograd 39% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Volgograd
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96 MX$203
$5.68 ₽477
110.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.38 MX$804
$37.70 ₽3,169
25.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.75 MX$199
$5.14 ₽432
128.60%
Cappuccino
$4.12 MX$70.0
$2.37 ₽199
73.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 MX$23.74
$0.97 ₽81.9
44.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 MX$15.48
$0.55 ₽46.46
65.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 MX$54.4
$1.15 ₽96.6
179.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07 MX$120
$2.40 ₽201
194.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Volgograd
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.44
$1.07 ₽90.1
57.01%
White Bread (500g)
$2.15 MX$36.48
$0.66 ₽55.5
225.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 MX$30.10
$1.32 ₽111
34.09%
Eggs
$2.82 MX$47.76
$1.46 ₽123
93.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.20 MX$156
$7.10 ₽597
29.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.23 MX$157
$4.92 ₽414
87.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.64 MX$214
$10.84 ₽911
16.61%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 MX$50.1
$1.22 ₽103
141.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 MX$26.79
$1.43 ₽120
10.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 MX$37.70
$1.41 ₽119
57.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.36 MX$40.09
$2.43 ₽204
-2.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 MX$33.81
$0.73 ₽61.6
172.60%
Onion (1kg)
$1.98 MX$33.58
$0.45 ₽38.15
340.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 MX$21.04
$0.33 ₽28.12
275.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 MX$20.55
$0.59 ₽49.82
105.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60 MX$78.1
$2.69 ₽226
71.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.52 MX$178
$8.50 ₽715
23.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 MX$28.70
$1.08 ₽90.7
56.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 MX$47.06
$1.89 ₽159
46.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Volgograd
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.22
$0.49 ₽41.26
22.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.70 MX$504
$16.13 ₽1,356
84.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.24 MX$88.8
$1.14 ₽96.0
359.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.65 MX$61.9
$0.24 ₽20.29
1420.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.78 MX$98.1
$4.45 ₽374
29.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.09
$0.81 ₽68.3
90.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K MX$386.8K
$24.7K ₽2.1M
-7.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K MX$437.9K
$26.5K ₽2.2M
-2.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Volgograd
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.7 MX$1,538
$80.5 ₽6,764
12.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19 MX$427
$9.92 ₽834
153.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75 MX$539
$7.74 ₽650
310.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Volgograd
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.8 MX$1,167
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37 MX$498
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$82.5
$5.73 ₽482
-15.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Volgograd
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$226 MX$3,828
$173 ₽14.5K
30.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,194 MX$71.1K
$3,435 ₽288.7K
22.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Volgograd
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38 MX$804
$106 ₽8,941
-55.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45 MX$737
$70.9 ₽5,957
-38.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.2 MX$1,361
$51.6 ₽4,336
55.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4 MX$1,550
$172 ₽14.5K
-46.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Volgograd
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,086 MX$18.4K
$383 ₽32.2K
183.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$409 MX$6,933
$233 ₽19.5K
75.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,972 MX$33.5K
$889 ₽74.7K
121.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,281 MX$21.7K
$458 ₽38.5K
179.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,046 MX$68.6K
$1,353 ₽113.7K
199.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,704 MX$113.7K
$1,158 ₽97.3K
479.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Volgograd
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$773 MX$13.1K
$440 ₽36.9K
75.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
21.33
-46.32%

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 Volgograd: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $383 in Volgograd. 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 76% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $38.00 in Volgograd. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $278 vs $177 – making Volgograd 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 Volgograd: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Volgograd cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 55%, 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 $1,267 in Volgograd. 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 Volgograd, 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 Volgograd?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,305 in Playa del Carmen and $844 in Volgograd. 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 84% less in Volgograd. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Volgograd?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Volgograd, where all-in costs run around $844, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Volgograd it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Volgograd more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Volgograd – 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 Volgograd. 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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