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 $950 per month in Sabac vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,425 per month in Sabac vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,900 per month in Sabac vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Sabac is about 25% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sabac and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Sabac 29% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.89 RSD 899

$11.87 MX$204

-25.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.18 RSD 2,648

$42.90 MX$736

-38.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.71 RSD 982

$10.65 MX$183

-8.83%

Cappuccino

$1.46 RSD 148

$3.45 MX$59.2

-57.68%

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

$1.77 RSD 179

$1.50 MX$25.81

18.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.19 RSD 121

$0.95 MX$16.28

25.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 RSD 236

$3.03 MX$51.9

-22.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 RSD 211

$4.61 MX$79.1

-54.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 RSD 140

$1.38 MX$23.61

0.72%

White Bread (500g)

$0.64 RSD 65.1

$1.85 MX$31.70

-65.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.92 RSD 194

$1.61 MX$27.65

19.25%

Eggs

$2.23 RSD 225

$2.59 MX$44.51

-13.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.30 RSD 738

$8.26 MX$142

-11.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.73 RSD 681

$8.37 MX$144

-19.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 RSD 1,085

$10.66 MX$183

0.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.29 RSD 131

$2.63 MX$45.12

-50.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 RSD 192

$1.49 MX$25.53

26.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 RSD 173

$1.92 MX$32.94

-10.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 RSD 227

$2.09 MX$35.81

7.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 RSD 116

$1.86 MX$31.88

-38.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 RSD 122

$2.26 MX$38.81

-46.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 RSD 107

$1.06 MX$18.23

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 RSD 49.05

$1.09 MX$18.67

-55.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 RSD 421

$4.15 MX$71.2

0.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.46 RSD 654

$10.39 MX$178

-37.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 RSD 72.3

$1.72 MX$29.59

-58.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 RSD 220

$2.61 MX$44.85

-16.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 RSD 92.3

$0.54 MX$9.30

68.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.85 RSD 2,715

$26.94 MX$462

-0.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 RSD 104

$3.13 MX$53.7

-67.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 RSD 46.67

$2.51 MX$43.09

-81.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.04 RSD 509

$3.15 MX$54.1

60.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.81 RSD 184

$1.27 MX$21.88

42.52%

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

$30.8K RSD 3.1M

$30.4K MX$521.3K

1.41%

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

$27.1K RSD 2.7M

$23.6K MX$404.5K

14.91%

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

$159 RSD 16.0K

$83.0 MX$1,425

91.00%

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

$19.88 RSD 2,011

$22.71 MX$390

-12.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.81 RSD 2,509

$29.46 MX$506

-15.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.39 RSD 2,365

$51.0 MX$875

-54.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.88 RSD 1,201

$18.33 MX$315

-35.19%

Cinema Ticket

$6.81 RSD 689

$4.93 MX$84.5

38.13%

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

$178 RSD 18.0K

$197 MX$3,386

-9.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,980 RSD 402.5K

$5,280 MX$90.6K

-24.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.6 RSD 6,431

$36.90 MX$633

72.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.7 RSD 5,529

$39.89 MX$685

37.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 RSD 11.7K

$80.0 MX$1,373

44.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 RSD 12.2K

$89.5 MX$1,536

35.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$238 RSD 24.1K

$956 MX$16.4K

-75.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 RSD 17.5K

$477 MX$8,189

-63.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$349 RSD 35.3K

$1,646 MX$28.3K

-78.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 RSD 27.0K

$1,225 MX$21.0K

-78.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,926 RSD 194.8K

$3,918 MX$67.2K

-50.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,517 RSD 153.4K

$6,459 MX$110.9K

-76.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$977 RSD 98.8K

$667 MX$11.4K

46.40%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $238 in Sabac versus $956 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 46% 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 $26.00 in Sabac versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $197 vs $250 – 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 34%, 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 $1,425 per month in Sabac and $1,906 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 $950 in Sabac and $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 0% 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 $950, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. 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.