😐A single person spends $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $939 in Zlatoust, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,130 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,443 in Zlatoust, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,999 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,947 in Zlatoust, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 34% more than Zlatoust, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Zlatoust are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen6% lower, Zlatoust30% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Zlatoust
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67MX$202
$6.52₽490
78.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88MX$726
$37.76₽2,833
10.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.40MX$180
$5.68₽426
83.10%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$2.30₽173
56.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.45
$1.08₽81.1
36.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.80
$0.49₽36.65
85.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$1.43₽107
111.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47MX$77.4
$2.52₽189
77.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Zlatoust
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.83
$1.10₽82.6
25.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.93
$0.70₽52.5
162.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.82
$1.39₽104
15.83%
Eggs
$2.57MX$44.52
$1.80₽135
42.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$10.78₽809
-21.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$4.87₽366
74.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.99MX$190
$8.96₽673
22.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.25
$1.80₽135
51.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.92
$1.90₽142
-21.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.93
$1.89₽142
3.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.70
$2.71₽204
-21.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.30
$0.86₽64.5
116.28%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.67
$0.67₽50.5
223.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.59
$1.41₽106
-24.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05MX$18.18
$0.67₽50.1
56.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.6
$3.01₽226
39.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.28MX$178
$5.54₽416
85.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.87
$1.00₽75.3
67.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49MX$43.12
$1.86₽140
33.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Zlatoust
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$0.49₽36.54
10.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.27MX$455
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10MX$53.8
$1.87₽140
65.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.66
$0.35₽26.58
602.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.1
$6.42₽482
-49.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.83
$0.78₽58.6
61.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$522.8K
$33.6K₽2.5M
-10.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.3K
$35.3K₽2.7M
-33.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Zlatoust
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0MX$1,456
$108₽8,130
-22.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21MX$385
$5.85₽439
279.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65MX$514
$7.90₽593
275.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Zlatoust
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6MX$912
$35.05₽2,630
50.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34MX$318
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.95MX$85.7
$5.01₽376
-1.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Zlatoust
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,438
$318₽23.8K
-37.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,322MX$92.2K
$7,093₽532.3K
-24.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Zlatoust
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95MX$623
$68.8₽5,165
-47.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06MX$694
$44.05₽3,306
-9.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,365
$115₽8,604
-31.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,499
$107₽8,061
-19.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Zlatoust
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977MX$16.9K
$439₽33.0K
122.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$471MX$8,158
$307₽23.0K
53.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595MX$27.6K
$755₽56.7K
111.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,215MX$21.1K
$500₽37.5K
142.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,032MX$69.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,579MX$114.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Zlatoust
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$714MX$12.4K
$654₽49.1K
9.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
15.33
-25.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Last update for Zlatoust: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $439 in Zlatoust. 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 9% 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 $42 in Playa del Carmen versus $38 in Zlatoust. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $193 – making Zlatoust 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 Zlatoust: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zlatoust cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 34%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,891 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,409 in Zlatoust. 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 Zlatoust, 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 Zlatoust?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Playa del Carmen and $939 in Zlatoust. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $318 in Zlatoust. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Zlatoust?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Zlatoust, where all-in costs run around $939, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,261. In Zlatoust it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Zlatoust more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Zlatoust – 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 Zlatoust. 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