😐A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $961 in Vrsac, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,405 in Vrsac, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,849 in Vrsac, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 31% more than Vrsac, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Vrsac are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Vrsac28% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Vrsac
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$7.99RSD 813
46.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$29.53RSD 3,003
41.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$8.60RSD 874
22.21%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$1.46RSD 149
145.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$1.61RSD 164
-6.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$1.51RSD 154
-39.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$1.64RSD 167
80.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$1.98RSD 202
122.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Vrsac
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$1.01RSD 103
38.61%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$0.60RSD 60.7
213.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$2.33RSD 237
-33.05%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$2.30RSD 234
13.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$8.64RSD 879
-3.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$4.26RSD 433
96.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$10.35RSD 1,053
4.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$0.93RSD 95.0
191.40%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$1.31RSD 133
15.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$1.40RSD 142
33.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$2.23RSD 227
-1.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$0.75RSD 76.7
148.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$0.67RSD 67.8
232.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$0.62RSD 62.6
72.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$0.70RSD 71.5
55.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$4.25RSD 433
-1.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
$5.95RSD 605
75.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$0.73RSD 73.9
127.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
$1.16RSD 118
125.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Vrsac
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$0.97RSD 98.7
-44.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
$27.58RSD 2,805
-5.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$1.81RSD 184
70.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
$0.43RSD 43.45
458.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$10.10RSD 1,027
-69.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$1.83RSD 186
-28.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$30.9KRSD 3.1M
-3.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$26.2KRSD 2.7M
-10.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Vrsac
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
$119RSD 12.1K
-31.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
$8.87RSD 902
154.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$34.85RSD 3,545
-13.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Vrsac
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$30.69RSD 3,121
72.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
$16.84RSD 1,712
9.20%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
$2.91RSD 296
69.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Vrsac
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$235RSD 23.9K
-14.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$4,995RSD 508.0K
3.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Vrsac
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$34.03RSD 3,461
5.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$26.75RSD 2,721
50.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$89.2RSD 9,073
-10.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$119RSD 12.1K
-27.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Vrsac
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$367RSD 37.3K
166.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
$294RSD 29.9K
59.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$558RSD 56.8K
195.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
$408RSD 41.5K
195.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
$2,188RSD 222.5K
80.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
$1,477RSD 150.2K
347.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Vrsac
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
8
42.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Last update for Vrsac: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $367 in Vrsac. 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $30.00 in Vrsac. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $175 – making Vrsac 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 Vrsac: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vrsac cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,441 in Vrsac. 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 Vrsac, 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 Vrsac?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $961 in Vrsac. 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 5% less in Vrsac. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Vrsac?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Vrsac, where all-in costs run around $961, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Vrsac it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Vrsac more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Vrsac – 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 Vrsac?
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 Vrsac. 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