😐A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,145 in Yekaterinburg, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,827 in Yekaterinburg, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,509 in Yekaterinburg, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 10% more than Yekaterinburg, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Yekaterinburg are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen6% lower, Yekaterinburg14% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Yekaterinburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$210
$13.30₽1,039
-9.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$731
$51.6₽4,029
-18.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$188
$6.50₽508
65.38%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$61.1
$2.82₽220
24.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.33
$1.36₽107
6.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.47
$0.65₽51.1
35.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.6
$1.85₽145
59.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.9
$2.25₽176
100.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Yekaterinburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$25.04
$1.10₽86.2
30.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$32.13
$0.66₽51.7
178.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.42
$1.34₽105
17.16%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.92
$1.62₽127
54.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$145
$12.54₽979
-33.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$4.68₽365
80.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$187
$11.78₽920
-9.34%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.62
$1.97₽154
32.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.15
$1.93₽151
-25.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.31
$2.45₽192
-20.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.62
$2.96₽231
-29.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.37
$0.68₽52.9
172.06%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.90
$0.79₽61.7
174.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$18.04
$1.37₽107
-24.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.78
$0.73₽56.7
46.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.7
$2.48₽194
65.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$178
$7.91₽618
28.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.29
$1.15₽89.9
46.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$44.17
$2.46₽192
2.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Yekaterinburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.90
$0.43₽33.80
18.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$455
$25.23₽1,971
3.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.5
$2.49₽195
29.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$42.06
$0.35₽27.42
588.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.5
$6.91₽539
-53.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.10
$0.73₽56.8
80.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$519.2K
$31.4K₽2.4M
-5.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$413.7K
$46.7K₽3.6M
-49.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Yekaterinburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,434
$130₽10.1K
-36.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$401
$6.91₽540
232.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$527
$9.22₽720
226.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Yekaterinburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$909
$40.12₽3,134
29.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$324
$19.27₽1,505
-3.84%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$87.0
$5.56₽434
-10.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Yekaterinburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,452
$463₽36.2K
-57.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$93.3K
$8,822₽689.2K
-39.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Yekaterinburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$622
$68.5₽5,353
-48.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$705
$45.70₽3,570
-11.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,377
$98.8₽7,720
-20.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$74.0₽5,780
20.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Yekaterinburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.6K
$587₽45.9K
61.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,288
$386₽30.2K
22.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.7K
$1,117₽87.2K
47.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.2K
$779₽60.9K
55.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.9K
$2,795₽218.4K
45.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$113.1K
$1,865₽145.7K
246.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Yekaterinburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
$967₽75.5K
-32.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
16.39
-30.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Last update for Yekaterinburg: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $587 in Yekaterinburg. 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 48% higher in Yekaterinburg, 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $52.0 in Yekaterinburg. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Playa del Carmen vs $216 in Yekaterinburg – so Yekaterinburg wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Yekaterinburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yekaterinburg cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,718 in Yekaterinburg. 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 Yekaterinburg, 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 Yekaterinburg?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $1,145 in Yekaterinburg. 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 3% less in Yekaterinburg. 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 Yekaterinburg?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Yekaterinburg, where all-in costs run around $1,145, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Yekaterinburg it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Yekaterinburg more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Yekaterinburg – 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 Yekaterinburg. 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