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 $1,214 per month in Varna vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,889 per month in Varna vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,564 per month in Varna vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Varna is about 4% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Varna and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Varna 10% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 BGN 19.51

$11.87 MX$205

-1.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.68 BGN 79.3

$42.90 MX$741

11.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.67 BGN 14.42

$10.65 MX$184

-18.59%

Cappuccino

$2.51 BGN 4.18

$3.45 MX$59.6

-27.25%

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

$1.76 BGN 2.92

$1.50 MX$25.99

17.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 BGN 2.21

$0.95 MX$16.40

40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 BGN 4.85

$3.03 MX$52.3

-3.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 BGN 4.85

$4.61 MX$79.7

-36.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 BGN 3.12

$1.38 MX$23.78

36.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 BGN 1.78

$1.85 MX$31.93

-42.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.51 BGN 4.18

$1.61 MX$27.84

55.90%

Eggs

$3.32 BGN 5.53

$2.59 MX$44.82

28.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.94 BGN 18.21

$8.26 MX$143

32.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.36 BGN 13.91

$8.37 MX$145

-0.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.35 BGN 20.55

$10.66 MX$184

15.85%

Apples (1kg)

$1.61 BGN 2.68

$2.63 MX$45.44

-38.78%

Banana (1kg)

$2.04 BGN 3.39

$1.49 MX$25.71

36.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 BGN 3.07

$1.92 MX$33.18

-4.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.77 BGN 4.61

$2.09 MX$36.06

32.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.20 BGN 2.00

$1.86 MX$32.10

-35.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 BGN 1.81

$2.26 MX$39.09

-51.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 BGN 1.63

$1.06 MX$18.36

-7.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 BGN 1.18

$1.09 MX$18.80

-34.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.81 BGN 6.34

$4.15 MX$71.7

-8.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.77 BGN 14.59

$10.39 MX$180

-15.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 BGN 1.85

$1.72 MX$29.80

-35.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 BGN 3.17

$2.61 MX$45.16

-27.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.15 BGN 1.91

$0.54 MX$9.36

112.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.14 BGN 48.48

$26.94 MX$466

8.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.34 BGN 2.23

$3.13 MX$54.1

-57.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 BGN 1.18

$2.51 MX$43.39

-71.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.31 BGN 20.47

$3.15 MX$54.4

290.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 BGN 2.57

$1.27 MX$22.04

22.05%

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

$31.6K BGN 52.6K

$30.4K MX$525.0K

4.11%

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

$29.0K BGN 48.2K

$23.6K MX$407.3K

22.95%

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

$125 BGN 208

$83.0 MX$1,435

50.82%

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

$18.90 BGN 31.45

$22.71 MX$393

-16.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.73 BGN 26.16

$29.46 MX$509

-46.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.83 BGN 67.9

$51.0 MX$882

-19.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.43 BGN 24.01

$18.33 MX$317

-21.28%

Cinema Ticket

$8.96 BGN 14.91

$4.93 MX$85.1

81.74%

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

$407 BGN 677

$197 MX$3,410

106.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,528 BGN 9,196

$5,280 MX$91.3K

4.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 BGN 99.3

$36.90 MX$638

61.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.90 BGN 56.4

$39.89 MX$690

-15.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.6 BGN 154

$80.0 MX$1,383

15.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 BGN 170

$89.5 MX$1,546

13.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$521 BGN 867

$956 MX$16.5K

-45.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$391 BGN 651

$477 MX$8,246

-18.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 BGN 1,510

$1,646 MX$28.5K

-44.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 BGN 1,053

$1,225 MX$21.2K

-48.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,234 BGN 5,381

$3,918 MX$67.7K

-17.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,112 BGN 3,513

$6,459 MX$111.6K

-67.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,200 BGN 1,996

$667 MX$11.5K

79.88%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $521 in Varna 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 80% 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 $48.00 in Varna versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $250 – making Playa del Carmen 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 5%, 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 $1,821 per month in Varna 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 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 $1,214 in Varna 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 8% 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 $1,214, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. 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.