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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $954 per month in Shakhty vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,471 per month in Shakhty vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,988 per month in Shakhty vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

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

Both Shakhty and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Shakhty 29% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.33 ₽700

$11.67 MX$202

-20.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.47 ₽2,812

$41.88 MX$726

-10.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.83 ₽437

$10.40 MX$180

-43.94%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₽177

$3.61 MX$62.6

-34.63%

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

$1.13 ₽84.9

$1.47 MX$25.45

-23.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₽38.68

$0.91 MX$15.80

-42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.38 ₽103

$3.03 MX$52.6

-54.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 ₽193

$4.47 MX$77.4

-42.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 ₽83.9

$1.38 MX$23.83

-18.84%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 ₽53.2

$1.84 MX$31.93

-61.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.43 ₽108

$1.61 MX$27.82

-11.18%

Eggs

$1.80 ₽135

$2.57 MX$44.52

-29.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.78 ₽809

$8.49 MX$147

26.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.78 ₽359

$8.49 MX$147

-43.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.71 ₽654

$10.99 MX$190

-20.75%

Apples (1kg)

$1.82 ₽137

$2.73 MX$47.25

-33.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₽136

$1.50 MX$25.92

20.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 ₽143

$1.96 MX$33.93

-3.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.79 ₽209

$2.12 MX$36.70

31.60%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 ₽58.6

$1.86 MX$32.30

-58.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₽50.4

$2.17 MX$37.67

-69.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.41 ₽106

$1.07 MX$18.59

31.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₽52.9

$1.05 MX$18.18

-32.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.96 ₽222

$4.19 MX$72.6

-29.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.28 ₽621

$10.28 MX$178

-19.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₽74.5

$1.67 MX$28.87

-40.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₽146

$2.49 MX$43.12

-22.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 ₽40.16

$0.54 MX$9.37

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.27 MX$455

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.89 ₽142

$3.10 MX$53.8

-39.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 ₽24.54

$2.46 MX$42.66

-86.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.44 ₽483

$3.24 MX$56.1

98.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 ₽54.1

$1.26 MX$21.83

-42.86%

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

$34.3K ₽2.6M

$30.2K MX$522.8K

13.55%

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

$35.8K ₽2.7M

$23.4K MX$406.3K

52.51%

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

$111 ₽8,311

$84.0 MX$1,456

31.87%

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

$5.97 ₽448

$22.21 MX$385

-73.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.67 ₽575

$29.65 MX$514

-74.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.98 ₽2,700

$52.6 MX$912

-31.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.34 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$4.96 ₽372

$4.95 MX$85.7

0.20%

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

$323 ₽24.2K

$198 MX$3,438

62.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,945 ₽521.2K

$5,322 MX$92.2K

30.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.3 ₽5,275

$35.95 MX$623

95.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.28 ₽3,398

$40.06 MX$694

13.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 ₽8,550

$78.8 MX$1,365

44.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 ₽8,154

$86.5 MX$1,499

25.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$452 ₽33.9K

$977 MX$16.9K

-53.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$306 ₽23.0K

$471 MX$8,158

-35.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$759 ₽57.0K

$1,595 MX$27.6K

-52.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$502 ₽37.7K

$1,215 MX$21.1K

-58.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,111 ₽158.4K

$4,032 MX$69.9K

-47.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,639 ₽123.0K

$6,579 MX$114.0K

-75.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$403 ₽30.2K

$714 MX$12.4K

-43.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

15.33

11.42

34.24%

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

Last update for Shakhty: April 21, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $452 in Shakhty versus $977 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 77% 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 $37 in Shakhty versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $198 vs $252 – making Shakhty the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 32%, 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 $1,431 per month in Shakhty and $1,891 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 Shakhty, 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 $954 in Shakhty and $1,261 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $323 per month in Shakhty and $198 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Shakhty, where all-in costs run around $954, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,261. In Shakhty it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

If budget matters most, go with Shakhty. 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.