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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $933 in Vratsa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,409 in Vratsa, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,886 in Vratsa, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 38% more than Vratsa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Vratsa are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Vratsa 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.94 MX$209

$8.70 BGN 14.54

37.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.75 MX$748

$29.40 BGN 49.11

45.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 MX$185

$5.83 BGN 9.74

81.65%

Cappuccino

$3.62 MX$63.4

$2.38 BGN 3.98

52.10%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 MX$25.69

$1.46 BGN 2.43

0.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 MX$16.51

$0.85 BGN 1.43

10.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 MX$54.1

$1.74 BGN 2.91

77.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MX$78.0

$2.32 BGN 3.88

92.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

$1.37 BGN 2.28

4.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.97

$1.03 BGN 1.72

82.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 MX$28.50

$1.33 BGN 2.23

22.56%

Eggs

$2.64 MX$46.26

$3.24 BGN 5.41

-18.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.21 MX$144

$9.33 BGN 15.58

-12.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$145

$5.96 BGN 9.95

39.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.10 MX$194

$11.84 BGN 19.77

-6.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 MX$46.40

$1.50 BGN 2.51

76.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$26.26

$1.74 BGN 2.90

-13.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.79

$1.20 BGN 2.01

65.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.33

$1.79 BGN 2.98

16.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 MX$31.29

$0.99 BGN 1.65

80.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$38.09

$0.90 BGN 1.50

142.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.84

$0.85 BGN 1.43

27.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 MX$18.15

$0.58 BGN 0.96

79.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 MX$69.5

$3.48 BGN 5.81

14.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 MX$179

$5.27 BGN 8.80

93.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.22

$1.03 BGN 1.73

67.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 MX$43.71

$1.75 BGN 2.92

42.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 MX$9.07

$0.57 BGN 0.96

-8.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$472

$17.95 BGN 29.98

50.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 MX$55.0

$0.89 BGN 1.49

252.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$42.04

$0.60 BGN 1.01

300.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 MX$54.0

$6.32 BGN 10.56

-51.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$22.28

$1.53 BGN 2.55

-16.99%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.9K MX$540.4K

$32.1K BGN 53.7K

-3.91%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.3K MX$408.0K

$27.7K BGN 46.2K

-15.69%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.0 MX$1,435

$97.7 BGN 163

-16.09%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.45 MX$393

$12.78 BGN 21.34

75.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 MX$519

$14.82 BGN 24.75

100.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 MX$908

$23.78 BGN 39.71

118.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$327

$14.63 BGN 24.44

27.61%

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 MX$87.0

$5.85 BGN 9.77

-15.04%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$198 MX$3,462

$425 BGN 709

-53.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,273 MX$92.3K

$6,959 BGN 11.6K

-24.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.34 MX$636

$59.6 BGN 99.6

-39.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.05 MX$701

$35.48 BGN 59.3

12.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 MX$1,398

$100 BGN 168

-20.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,555

$104 BGN 173

-14.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$963 MX$16.9K

$258 BGN 430

274.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MX$8,133

$270 BGN 451

72.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,596 MX$27.9K

$477 BGN 796

234.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 MX$21.2K

$420 BGN 701

188.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,942 MX$69.0K

$1,483 BGN 2,477

165.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,448 MX$112.8K

$784 BGN 1,309

722.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$720 MX$12.6K

$1,149 BGN 1,918

-37.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

4.49

154.34%

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 Vratsa: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $258 in Vratsa. 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 59% higher in Vratsa, 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 $29.00 in Vratsa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $202 – making Vratsa 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 Vratsa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 38%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,400 in Vratsa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Vratsa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $933 in Vratsa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 50% less in Vratsa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Vratsa, where all-in costs run around $933, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Vratsa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Vratsa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Vratsa. 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.