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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $702 per month in Zaporizhzhya vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,087 per month in Zaporizhzhya vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,473 per month in Zaporizhzhya vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Zaporizhzhya is about 46% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Zaporizhzhya and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Zaporizhzhya 48% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zaporizhzhya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.42 ₴329
$11.73 MX$203
-36.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.15 ₴1,070
$41.62 MX$720
-41.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.84 ₴170
$10.64 MX$184
-63.91%
Cappuccino
$0.83 ₴36.98
$3.52 MX$60.9
-76.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ₴28.76
$1.51 MX$26.12
-56.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ₴19.25
$0.97 MX$16.84
-55.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.99 ₴43.72
$2.95 MX$51.0
-66.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 ₴65.0
$4.45 MX$77.0
-66.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zaporizhzhya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 ₴46.58
$1.38 MX$23.93
-23.91%
White Bread (500g)
$0.61 ₴27.21
$1.89 MX$32.72
-67.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.26 ₴55.9
$1.64 MX$28.32
-23.17%
Eggs
$1.59 ₴70.5
$2.51 MX$43.34
-36.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.06 ₴313
$8.34 MX$144
-15.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.06 ₴180
$8.34 MX$144
-51.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.70 ₴208
$10.73 MX$186
-56.20%
Apples (1kg)
$0.86 ₴38.14
$2.60 MX$45.04
-66.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 ₴72.2
$1.46 MX$25.20
11.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 ₴83.2
$1.90 MX$32.87
-1.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.10 ₴92.9
$2.08 MX$35.91
0.96%
Potato (1kg)
$0.62 ₴27.36
$1.78 MX$30.71
-65.17%
Onion (1kg)
$0.51 ₴22.78
$2.19 MX$37.80
-76.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 ₴44.18
$1.04 MX$17.99
-3.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₴23.62
$1.08 MX$18.62
-50.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 ₴103
$4.08 MX$70.6
-42.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.56 ₴202
$10.32 MX$178
-55.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 ₴33.26
$1.71 MX$29.61
-56.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₴58.0
$2.58 MX$44.54
-49.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Zaporizhzhya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 ₴17.42
$0.51 MX$8.81
-23.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.46 MX$458
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ₴62.7
$3.26 MX$56.4
-56.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₴10.11
$2.49 MX$43.09
-90.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.40 ₴106
$3.25 MX$56.2
-26.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ₴59.3
$1.31 MX$22.61
2.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K ₴1.2M
$30.3K MX$523.7K
-12.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.2K ₴761.4K
$23.4K MX$405.3K
-26.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zaporizhzhya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$112 ₴4,956
$82.9 MX$1,433
35.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.19 ₴230
$22.22 MX$384
-76.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.57 ₴247
$29.34 MX$507
-81.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zaporizhzhya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.37 ₴1,345
$51.6 MX$893
-41.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.80 ₴213
$18.32 MX$317
-73.80%
Cinema Ticket
$3.65 ₴162
$5.07 MX$87.6
-28.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zaporizhzhya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$72.9 ₴3,229
$201 MX$3,473
-63.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,183 ₴141.0K
$5,212 MX$90.1K
-38.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zaporizhzhya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6 ₴2,553
$36.92 MX$639
56.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.31 ₴1,786
$39.79 MX$688
1.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.5 ₴3,255
$78.5 MX$1,357
-6.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 ₴4,508
$87.1 MX$1,506
16.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zaporizhzhya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$212 ₴9,402
$973 MX$16.8K
-78.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$182 ₴8,048
$468 MX$8,090
-61.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$449 ₴19.9K
$1,641 MX$28.4K
-72.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$331 ₴14.6K
$1,221 MX$21.1K
-72.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$560 ₴24.8K
$3,946 MX$68.3K
-85.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$400 ₴17.7K
$6,498 MX$112.4K
-93.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zaporizhzhya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$491 ₴21.7K
$664 MX$11.5K
-26.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
17
11.42
48.86%

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

Last update for Zaporizhzhya: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $212 in Zaporizhzhya versus $973 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 35% 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 $24.00 in Zaporizhzhya versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $144 vs $249 – making Zaporizhzhya 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
Zaporizhzhya vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Zaporizhzhya?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 85%, 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 $1,053 per month in Zaporizhzhya and $1,945 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 Zaporizhzhya, 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 Zaporizhzhya vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $702 in Zaporizhzhya and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $72.9 per month in Zaporizhzhya and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Zaporizhzhya or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Zaporizhzhya, where all-in costs run around $702, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Zaporizhzhya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Zaporizhzhya or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Zaporizhzhya – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Zaporizhzhya. 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.

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