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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $919 per month in Silistra vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,364 per month in Silistra vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,809 per month in Silistra vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Silistra is about 27% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Silistra and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Silistra 31% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Silistra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.72 BGN 17.83
$11.99 MX$210
-10.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.59 BGN 42.57
$41.78 MX$733
-38.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.00 BGN 14.97
$10.75 MX$189
-16.28%
Cappuccino
$1.72 BGN 2.87
$3.50 MX$61.3
-50.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17 BGN 1.94
$1.45 MX$25.41
-19.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 BGN 1.08
$0.88 MX$15.52
-26.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.94 BGN 3.23
$2.95 MX$51.7
-34.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 BGN 4.53
$4.51 MX$79.1
-39.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Silistra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 BGN 2.71
$1.43 MX$25.12
13.99%
White Bread (500g)
$0.95 BGN 1.58
$1.84 MX$32.23
-48.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.87 BGN 3.12
$1.57 MX$27.51
19.11%
Eggs
$3.31 BGN 5.50
$2.51 MX$44.06
31.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.17 BGN 15.26
$8.28 MX$145
10.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.88 BGN 13.11
$8.43 MX$148
-6.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.53 BGN 19.17
$10.68 MX$187
7.96%
Apples (1kg)
$1.93 BGN 3.22
$2.61 MX$45.76
-26.05%
Banana (1kg)
$2.12 BGN 3.52
$1.44 MX$25.22
47.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 BGN 3.34
$1.96 MX$34.41
2.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 BGN 4.18
$2.09 MX$36.74
20.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 BGN 2.42
$1.85 MX$32.47
-21.08%
Onion (1kg)
$1.35 BGN 2.25
$2.17 MX$38.02
-37.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 BGN 1.74
$1.03 MX$18.09
1.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 BGN 1.38
$1.07 MX$18.84
-22.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.63 BGN 6.03
$4.10 MX$72.0
-11.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.19 BGN 8.64
$10.17 MX$178
-48.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 BGN 1.56
$1.68 MX$29.38
-44.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 BGN 2.88
$2.53 MX$44.31
-31.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Silistra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.62 BGN 1.03
$0.51 MX$8.93
21.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.41 BGN 43.94
$26.04 MX$457
1.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.20 BGN 1.99
$3.23 MX$56.7
-62.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.71 BGN 1.18
$2.41 MX$42.19
-70.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.05 BGN 10.06
$3.23 MX$56.6
87.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 BGN 2.43
$1.32 MX$23.17
10.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.5K BGN 54.0K
$29.7K MX$520.9K
9.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K BGN 42.5K
$23.7K MX$415.0K
8.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Silistra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$94.8 BGN 158
$82.0 MX$1,439
15.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.72 BGN 27.82
$22.95 MX$403
-27.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.08 BGN 23.42
$30.11 MX$528
-53.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Silistra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.80 BGN 52.9
$52.0 MX$912
-38.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.54 BGN 24.19
$18.53 MX$325
-21.53%
Cinema Ticket
$7.12 BGN 11.84
$4.98 MX$87.3
42.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Silistra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$233 BGN 388
$197 MX$3,463
17.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,159 BGN 6,919
$5,336 MX$93.6K
-22.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Silistra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.6 BGN 99.1
$35.60 MX$624
67.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.12 BGN 48.45
$40.33 MX$707
-27.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.5 BGN 119
$78.8 MX$1,381
-9.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.0 BGN 120
$88.9 MX$1,560
-19.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Silistra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$235 BGN 391
$947 MX$16.6K
-75.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$210 BGN 349
$474 MX$8,314
-55.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$339 BGN 564
$1,644 MX$28.8K
-79.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$258 BGN 430
$1,211 MX$21.2K
-78.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,389 BGN 2,311
$4,056 MX$71.1K
-65.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$972 BGN 1,617
$6,470 MX$113.5K
-84.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Silistra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 BGN 1,223
$654 MX$11.5K
12.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.57
11.42
-59.98%

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

Last update for Silistra: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $235 in Silistra versus $947 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 12% higher in Silistra, 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 Silistra versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $231 vs $249 – making Silistra 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
Silistra vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Silistra?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 37%, 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 $1,379 per month in Silistra and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. 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 Silistra, 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 Silistra and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $919 in Silistra and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. 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 1% less in Silistra. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Silistra or in Playa del Carmen?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Silistra, where all-in costs run around $919, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Silistra it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Silistra or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Silistra – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Silistra or Playa del Carmen?
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 Silistra. 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.

Silistra vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities