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 $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $863 in Vratsa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,301 in Vratsa, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,739 in Vratsa, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 47% more than Vratsa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Vratsa are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 7% lower, Vratsa 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.60 MX$199

$8.81 BGN 14.66

31.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.11 MX$809

$29.66 BGN 49.34

58.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.88 MX$204

$5.97 BGN 9.93

98.99%

Cappuccino

$3.98 MX$68.2

$2.31 BGN 3.85

72.29%

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

$1.43 MX$24.49

$1.56 BGN 2.60

-8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 MX$14.16

$0.92 BGN 1.53

-10.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$54.7

$1.74 BGN 2.89

83.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

$2.05 BGN 3.41

231.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.76

$1.43 BGN 2.38

17.48%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 MX$37.71

$0.85 BGN 1.41

158.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.32

$1.34 BGN 2.23

27.61%

Eggs

$2.74 MX$47.05

$2.32 BGN 3.86

18.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MX$164

$9.64 BGN 16.04

-0.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 MX$155

$5.88 BGN 9.79

53.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.81 MX$220

$8.92 BGN 14.85

43.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 MX$49.58

$1.30 BGN 2.16

122.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.70

$1.77 BGN 2.94

-15.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$36.87

$1.16 BGN 1.93

85.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.79

$1.79 BGN 2.99

26.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 MX$34.00

$0.97 BGN 1.62

104.12%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.15

$0.76 BGN 1.26

161.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 MX$21.18

$0.61 BGN 1.01

101.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.54

$0.61 BGN 1.02

96.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 MX$78.1

$3.44 BGN 5.72

32.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$178

$5.48 BGN 9.11

89.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.79

$1.18 BGN 1.96

37.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.44

$1.73 BGN 2.87

66.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.30

$0.93 BGN 1.55

-35.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$494

$25.00 BGN 41.59

15.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 MX$92.5

$0.85 BGN 1.41

534.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.0

$0.63 BGN 1.05

492.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.0

$6.58 BGN 10.95

-12.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.37

$1.59 BGN 2.65

-3.14%

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

$22.5K MX$387.0K

$30.4K BGN 50.6K

-25.91%

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

$26.1K MX$447.3K

$21.1K BGN 35.0K

23.72%

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

$91.4 MX$1,569

$95.1 BGN 158

-3.87%

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

$25.20 MX$433

$12.86 BGN 21.39

95.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.24 MX$536

$12.80 BGN 21.30

144.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,154

$23.57 BGN 39.21

185.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$500

$15.04 BGN 25.02

93.55%

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$83.5

$5.87 BGN 9.76

-17.21%

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

$224 MX$3,839

$239 BGN 397

-6.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.6K

$2,358 BGN 3,922

79.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 MX$808

$32.07 BGN 53.4

46.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 MX$760

$19.84 BGN 33.00

123.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,375

$67.2 BGN 112

19.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 MX$1,591

$54.0 BGN 89.8

71.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 MX$18.2K

$342 BGN 569

210.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MX$6,698

$262 BGN 435

49.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 MX$36.9K

$573 BGN 954

274.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 MX$21.8K

$410 BGN 682

210.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$68.7K

$1,363 BGN 2,267

193.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$111.6K

$1,105 BGN 1,838

488.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.0K

$1,103 BGN 1,835

-31.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

2.99

282.94%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Last update for Vratsa: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $342 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 45% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $30.00 in Vratsa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $188 – 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 47%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,294 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 $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $863 in Vratsa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 15% 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 $863, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. 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.