😐A single person spends $1,343 per month in Yakutsk vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,022 per month in Yakutsk vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,702 per month in Yakutsk vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Yakutsk costs about 4% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Yakutsk and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Yakutsk2% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yakutsk
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.57₽735
$11.71MX$198
-26.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.05₽3,523
$46.59MX$787
-11.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.34₽716
$11.65MX$197
-28.41%
Cappuccino
$2.12₽182
$4.09MX$69.2
-48.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57₽135
$1.37MX$23.23
14.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98₽84.1
$0.83MX$14.09
18.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.46₽297
$3.35MX$56.7
3.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94₽252
$6.91MX$117
-57.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yakutsk
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70₽146
$1.73MX$29.19
-1.73%
White Bread(500g)
$0.81₽69.6
$2.26MX$38.20
-64.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52₽130
$1.77MX$29.90
-14.12%
Eggs
$2.12₽182
$2.73MX$46.18
-22.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.84₽1,016
$9.18MX$155
28.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.46₽640
$8.92MX$151
-16.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.49₽814
$12.60MX$213
-24.68%
Apples(1kg)
$3.13₽269
$3.02MX$51.1
3.64%
Banana(1kg)
$2.65₽228
$1.57MX$26.54
68.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.70₽317
$2.13MX$35.92
73.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.54₽389
$2.26MX$38.27
100.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15₽99.1
$2.00MX$33.87
-42.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.43₽123
$2.06MX$34.89
-30.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40₽121
$1.18MX$19.94
18.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89₽76.4
$1.20MX$20.35
-25.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.96₽254
$4.63MX$78.3
-36.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.94₽681
$10.69MX$181
-25.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52₽130
$1.62MX$27.37
-6.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50₽215
$2.88MX$48.69
-13.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Yakutsk
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.65₽56.1
$0.57MX$9.69
14.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.75₽1,609
$29.83MX$504
-37.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.35₽202
$5.45MX$92.1
-56.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22₽18.91
$3.70MX$62.6
-94.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.83₽500
$5.98MX$101
-2.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83₽70.9
$1.55MX$26.25
-46.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0K₽3.2M
$22.3KMX$377.3K
65.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K₽2.2M
$25.9KMX$438.5K
-1.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yakutsk
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$153₽13.1K
$89.1MX$1,506
71.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.91₽679
$25.04MX$423
-68.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.04₽1,205
$31.50MX$532
-55.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yakutsk
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$92.5₽7,937
$67.8MX$1,145
36.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.68₽402
$28.92MX$489
-83.82%
Cinema Ticket
$5.90₽506
$5.05MX$85.3
16.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yakutsk
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304₽26.1K
$225MX$3,802
34.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,363₽202.8K
$4,222MX$71.4K
-44.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yakutsk
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4₽5,355
$47.44MX$802
31.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.5₽5,280
$44.98MX$760
36.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$153₽13.1K
$82.0MX$1,386
86.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.5₽8,192
$92.1MX$1,556
3.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yakutsk
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$639₽54.8K
$1,069MX$18.1K
-40.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$431₽37.0K
$405MX$6,850
6.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,092₽93.7K
$1,935MX$32.7K
-43.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$733₽62.9K
$1,301MX$22.0K
-43.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,822₽242.2K
$3,995MX$67.5K
-29.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,450₽210.3K
$6,626MX$112.0K
-63.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yakutsk
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,039₽89.2K
$749MX$12.7K
38.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
21
11.45
83.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Yakutsk: August 30, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $639 in Yakutsk versus $1,069 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 39% higher in Yakutsk, 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 $41.00 in Yakutsk versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $261 vs $277 – making Yakutsk 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
Yakutsk vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Yakutsk?
Yes – Yakutsk is pricier by about 4%, 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 $2,014 per month in Yakutsk and $1,940 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 Playa del Carmen, 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 Yakutsk and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,343 in Yakutsk and $1,293 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 59% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Yakutsk or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,293, than in Yakutsk at $1,343. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Yakutsk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Yakutsk or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Yakutsk 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 Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Yakutsk makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.