Cost of Living Comparison Between Sabac and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Sabac and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $960 per month in Sabac vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Sabac vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Sabac vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Sabac is about 24% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sabac and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Sabac 28% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.00 RSD 923

$11.72 MX$204

-23.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.96 RSD 2,767

$41.89 MX$731

-35.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.64 RSD 990

$10.51 MX$183

-8.28%

Cappuccino

$1.50 RSD 154

$3.59 MX$62.5

-58.22%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 RSD 180

$1.51 MX$26.31

15.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 RSD 123

$0.92 MX$15.96

30.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 RSD 240

$2.96 MX$51.6

-20.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 RSD 216

$4.41 MX$76.9

-52.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 RSD 142

$1.40 MX$24.35

-1.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 RSD 67.5

$1.88 MX$32.87

-64.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.00 RSD 205

$1.56 MX$27.19

28.21%

Eggs

$2.18 RSD 223

$2.61 MX$45.50

-16.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.37 RSD 756

$8.32 MX$145

-11.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.72 RSD 690

$8.35 MX$146

-19.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.82 RSD 1,111

$10.86 MX$189

-0.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 RSD 133

$2.71 MX$47.31

-52.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 RSD 187

$1.51 MX$26.25

21.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 RSD 182

$1.87 MX$32.67

-5.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.32 RSD 239

$2.19 MX$38.19

5.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 RSD 118

$1.86 MX$32.40

-38.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 RSD 129

$2.23 MX$38.90

-43.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 RSD 107

$1.07 MX$18.63

-2.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 RSD 50.2

$1.09 MX$18.94

-55.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.11 RSD 422

$4.19 MX$73.0

-1.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.93 RSD 608

$10.43 MX$182

-43.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 RSD 69.8

$1.66 MX$28.91

-59.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 RSD 221

$2.61 MX$45.56

-17.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.00 RSD 102

$0.54 MX$9.45

85.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.79 RSD 2,647

$26.16 MX$456

-1.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 RSD 106

$3.08 MX$53.7

-66.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 RSD 47.02

$2.40 MX$41.94

-80.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.05 RSD 519

$3.13 MX$54.5

61.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.82 RSD 187

$1.31 MX$22.87

38.93%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.6K RSD 3.1M

$29.8K MX$519.9K

2.73%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.0K RSD 2.8M

$23.3K MX$406.8K

15.97%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$160 RSD 16.5K

$81.3 MX$1,418

97.34%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$19.38 RSD 1,990

$22.56 MX$393

-14.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.90 RSD 2,556

$30.05 MX$524

-17.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.72 RSD 2,435

$52.9 MX$923

-55.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.79 RSD 1,211

$18.39 MX$321

-35.89%

Cinema Ticket

$6.67 RSD 685

$4.92 MX$85.8

35.57%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$177 RSD 18.2K

$201 MX$3,502

-11.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,969 RSD 407.4K

$5,175 MX$90.2K

-23.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.4 RSD 6,405

$35.92 MX$627

73.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.8 RSD 5,730

$40.13 MX$700

39.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 RSD 12.3K

$79.7 MX$1,390

50.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 RSD 12.3K

$86.5 MX$1,508

38.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$237 RSD 24.3K

$978 MX$17.1K

-75.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 RSD 18.4K

$470 MX$8,206

-61.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$352 RSD 36.1K

$1,651 MX$28.8K

-78.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$260 RSD 26.7K

$1,203 MX$21.0K

-78.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,906 RSD 195.6K

$3,953 MX$69.0K

-51.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,537 RSD 157.8K

$6,607 MX$115.2K

-76.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$955 RSD 98.0K

$677 MX$11.8K

41.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

-29.95%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Sabac: July 25, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $237 in Sabac versus $978 in Playa del Carmen. 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 41% higher in Sabac, 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 $27.00 in Sabac versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $197 vs $252 – making Sabac 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

Sabac vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,439 per month in Sabac and $1,890 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sabac, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $960 in Sabac and $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 1% less in Sabac. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sabac, where all-in costs run around $960, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Sabac it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sabac – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Sabac. 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.