😐A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $978 in Vrsac, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,419 in Vrsac, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,861 in Vrsac, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 29% more than Vrsac, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Vrsac are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen7% lower, Vrsac29% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Vrsac
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$9.18RSD 935
26.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$811
$34.71RSD 3,537
35.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$11.51RSD 1,173
3.21%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.5
$1.71RSD 175
132.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.57
$1.91RSD 194
-25.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.20
$1.38RSD 140
-40.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$54.9
$2.05RSD 209
55.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$2.51RSD 256
170.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Vrsac
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.85
$1.01RSD 103
66.34%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.83
$0.60RSD 61.0
266.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.41
$2.29RSD 234
-25.33%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.20
$2.32RSD 236
18.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$9.06RSD 923
5.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$4.04RSD 412
123.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$11.95RSD 1,218
7.20%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.74
$0.85RSD 86.2
240.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.78
$1.32RSD 135
13.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.98
$1.36RSD 139
58.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.91
$2.22RSD 227
1.80%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.10
$0.81RSD 83.0
144.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.26
$0.62RSD 63.4
220.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.25
$0.56RSD 57.3
119.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.60
$0.63RSD 64.2
90.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.3
$4.38RSD 446
3.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$5.33RSD 543
94.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.88
$0.73RSD 74.1
121.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.60
$1.16RSD 118
148.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Vrsac
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.34
$1.02RSD 104
-41.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$496
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.8
$1.95RSD 199
176.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.2
$1.31RSD 133
184.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.3
$11.26RSD 1,148
-48.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.45
$1.83RSD 186
-15.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.3K
$32.1KRSD 3.3M
-29.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$448.7K
$25.9KRSD 2.6M
0.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Vrsac
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,573
$159RSD 16.2K
-42.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$434
$9.12RSD 929
176.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$538
$35.22RSD 3,589
-11.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Vrsac
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,157
$30.76RSD 3,134
118.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$501
$13.70RSD 1,396
112.48%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.7
$4.87RSD 496
-0.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Vrsac
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,851
$243RSD 24.7K
-7.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.8K
$7,839RSD 798.8K
-46.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Vrsac
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$811
$43.82RSD 4,466
7.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$763
$23.52RSD 2,396
88.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,379
$94.2RSD 9,602
-14.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,596
$75.3RSD 7,676
23.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Vrsac
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$326RSD 33.2K
225.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,719
$265RSD 27.0K
47.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.0K
$450RSD 45.9K
377.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
$378RSD 38.5K
236.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$68.9K
$2,167RSD 220.8K
84.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.0K
$1,585RSD 161.5K
310.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Vrsac
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
4.79
139.04%
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 Vrsac: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $326 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $35.00 in Vrsac. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $177 – 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 29%, 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 $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,467 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 $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $978 in Vrsac. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $224 per month in Playa del Carmen and $243 in Vrsac. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
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 $978, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. 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