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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,223 per month in Varna vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,849 per month in Varna vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,476 per month in Varna vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Varna is about 3% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Varna and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Varna 8% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.69 BGN 19.45

$11.72 MX$204

-0.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.30 BGN 78.7

$41.89 MX$731

12.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.07 BGN 15.09

$10.51 MX$183

-13.70%

Cappuccino

$2.47 BGN 4.12

$3.59 MX$62.5

-31.20%

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

$1.73 BGN 2.87

$1.51 MX$26.31

14.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 BGN 2.19

$0.92 MX$15.96

43.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 BGN 4.80

$2.96 MX$51.6

-2.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 BGN 4.88

$4.41 MX$76.9

-33.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 BGN 2.98

$1.40 MX$24.35

27.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 BGN 1.71

$1.88 MX$32.87

-45.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.44 BGN 4.05

$1.56 MX$27.19

56.41%

Eggs

$3.44 BGN 5.73

$2.61 MX$45.50

31.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.79 BGN 17.95

$8.32 MX$145

29.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.10 BGN 13.47

$8.35 MX$146

-2.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.26 BGN 20.40

$10.86 MX$189

12.89%

Apples (1kg)

$1.69 BGN 2.80

$2.71 MX$47.31

-37.64%

Banana (1kg)

$2.04 BGN 3.40

$1.51 MX$26.25

35.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 BGN 3.10

$1.87 MX$32.67

Tomato (1kg)

$2.73 BGN 4.54

$2.19 MX$38.19

24.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.20 BGN 2.00

$1.86 MX$32.40

-35.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.14 BGN 1.89

$2.23 MX$38.90

-48.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 BGN 1.66

$1.07 MX$18.63

-6.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 BGN 1.23

$1.09 MX$18.94

-32.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.74 BGN 6.22

$4.19 MX$73.0

-10.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.68 BGN 14.44

$10.43 MX$182

-16.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 BGN 1.85

$1.66 MX$28.91

-33.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 BGN 3.18

$2.61 MX$45.56

-26.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.16 BGN 1.93

$0.54 MX$9.45

114.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.23 BGN 48.62

$26.16 MX$456

11.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 BGN 2.25

$3.08 MX$53.7

-56.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 BGN 1.19

$2.40 MX$41.94

-70.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.42 BGN 20.67

$3.13 MX$54.5

296.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 BGN 2.50

$1.31 MX$22.87

14.50%

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

$32.3K BGN 53.8K

$29.8K MX$519.9K

8.51%

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

$29.5K BGN 49.1K

$23.3K MX$406.8K

26.50%

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

$124 BGN 207

$81.3 MX$1,418

53.12%

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

$18.60 BGN 30.94

$22.56 MX$393

-17.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.89 BGN 26.43

$30.05 MX$524

-47.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.68 BGN 69.3

$52.9 MX$923

-21.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.85 BGN 24.70

$18.39 MX$321

-19.25%

Cinema Ticket

$8.94 BGN 14.87

$4.92 MX$85.8

81.71%

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

$413 BGN 687

$201 MX$3,502

105.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,503 BGN 9,156

$5,175 MX$90.2K

6.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.4 BGN 100

$35.92 MX$627

68.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.21 BGN 55.3

$40.13 MX$700

-17.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.6 BGN 154

$79.7 MX$1,390

16.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 BGN 170

$86.5 MX$1,508

17.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$510 BGN 848

$978 MX$17.1K

-47.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$389 BGN 647

$470 MX$8,206

-17.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$893 BGN 1,485

$1,651 MX$28.8K

-45.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$650 BGN 1,082

$1,203 MX$21.0K

-45.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,269 BGN 5,438

$3,953 MX$69.0K

-17.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,167 BGN 3,606

$6,607 MX$115.2K

-67.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,207 BGN 2,008

$677 MX$11.8K

78.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.71

11.42

-58.76%

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

Last update for Varna: July 28, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $510 in Varna 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 78% higher in Varna, 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 $47.00 in Varna versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Varna vs $252 in Playa del Carmen – so Varna wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 3%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,834 per month in Varna 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 Varna, 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 $1,223 in Varna 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 12% less in Varna. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Varna, where all-in costs run around $1,223, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Varna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Varna – 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 Varna. 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.