😐A single person spends $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $712 in Zhytomyr, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,122 in Zhytomyr, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,532 in Zhytomyr, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 78% more than Zhytomyr, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Zhytomyr are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Zhytomyr47% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Zhytomyr
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$204
$8.70₴391
36.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$736
$33.95₴1,525
26.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$183
$6.19₴278
72.05%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.2
$1.17₴52.7
194.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.81
$0.63₴28.13
138.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.28
$0.34₴15.45
179.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$51.9
$0.70₴31.28
332.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.1
$1.48₴66.6
211.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Zhytomyr
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.61
$1.11₴50.0
24.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.70
$0.72₴32.48
156.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.65
$1.38₴61.8
16.67%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.51
$1.71₴76.6
51.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$142
$9.52₴428
-13.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$144
$3.34₴150
150.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$183
$5.49₴247
94.17%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.12
$0.85₴38.29
209.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.53
$1.53₴68.8
-2.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.94
$1.61₴72.4
19.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.81
$2.24₴101
-6.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$31.88
$0.86₴38.58
116.28%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.81
$0.59₴26.71
283.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.23
$1.23₴55.4
-13.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.67
$0.58₴26.11
87.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.2
$2.87₴129
44.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$178
$4.00₴180
159.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.59
$0.84₴37.85
104.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$44.85
$1.47₴65.8
77.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Zhytomyr
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.30
$0.34₴15.48
58.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$462
$9.01₴405
199.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$53.7
$1.77₴79.4
76.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.09
$0.37₴16.73
578.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.1
$4.45₴200
-29.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$21.88
$1.34₴60.4
-5.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$521.3K
$30.6K₴1.4M
-0.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$404.5K
$25.0K₴1.1M
-5.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Zhytomyr
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,425
$75.9₴3,409
9.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$390
$5.78₴260
292.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$506
$4.35₴196
577.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Zhytomyr
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$875
$28.77₴1,293
77.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$315
$16.32₴733
12.32%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$84.5
$4.77₴215
3.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Zhytomyr
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,386
$172₴7,725
14.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$90.6K
$3,201₴143.8K
64.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Zhytomyr
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$633
$60.6₴2,721
-39.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$685
$32.78₴1,473
21.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,373
$90.1₴4,048
-11.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,536
$89.7₴4,031
-0.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Zhytomyr
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.4K
$251₴11.3K
280.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,189
$198₴8,905
140.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.3K
$419₴18.8K
293.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.0K
$325₴14.6K
276.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.2K
$1,086₴48.8K
260.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$110.9K
$860₴38.7K
650.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Zhytomyr
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.4K
$391₴17.5K
70.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
19.34
-40.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Last update for Zhytomyr: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $251 in Zhytomyr. 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 71% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $34.00 in Zhytomyr. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $154 – making Zhytomyr 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 Zhytomyr: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zhytomyr cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 78%, 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 $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,069 in Zhytomyr. 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 Zhytomyr, 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 vs Zhytomyr?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,271 in Playa del Carmen and $712 in Zhytomyr. 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 199% less in Zhytomyr. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Zhytomyr?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Zhytomyr, where all-in costs run around $712, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Zhytomyr it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Zhytomyr more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Zhytomyr – 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 Zhytomyr?
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 Zhytomyr. 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