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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,023 per month in Zhukovsky vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,562 per month in Zhukovsky vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,102 per month in Zhukovsky vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Zhukovsky is about 19% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Zhukovsky and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Zhukovsky 23% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.75 ₽1,002

$11.99 MX$209

6.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.4 ₽4,041

$41.78 MX$728

23.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.74 ₽294

$10.75 MX$187

-65.21%

Cappuccino

$2.53 ₽198

$3.50 MX$60.9

-27.71%

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

$0.80 ₽62.7

$1.45 MX$25.22

-44.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ₽28.65

$0.88 MX$15.41

-59.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.87 ₽147

$2.95 MX$51.3

-36.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 ₽194

$4.51 MX$78.6

-45.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 ₽68.3

$1.43 MX$24.94

-39.16%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 ₽57.5

$1.84 MX$31.99

-60.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 ₽122

$1.57 MX$27.31

-0.64%

Eggs

$1.48 ₽116

$2.51 MX$43.74

-41.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.51 ₽669

$8.28 MX$144

2.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.95 ₽389

$8.43 MX$147

-41.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.77 ₽767

$10.68 MX$186

-8.52%

Apples (1kg)

$1.49 ₽117

$2.61 MX$45.43

-42.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 ₽103

$1.44 MX$25.04

-9.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ₽126

$1.96 MX$34.16

-18.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ₽126

$2.09 MX$36.47

-23.44%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 ₽30.83

$1.85 MX$32.24

-78.92%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 ₽43.85

$2.17 MX$37.74

-74.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 ₽20.49

$1.03 MX$17.96

-74.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₽49.49

$1.07 MX$18.70

-41.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.02 ₽159

$4.10 MX$71.4

-50.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.56 ₽830

$10.17 MX$177

3.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 ₽85.6

$1.68 MX$29.17

-35.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 ₽186

$2.53 MX$43.98

-6.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 ₽38.59

$0.51 MX$8.87

-3.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.13 ₽1,189

$26.04 MX$453

-41.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₽147

$3.23 MX$56.3

-42.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 ₽37.05

$2.41 MX$41.88

-80.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.34 ₽655

$3.23 MX$56.2

158.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 ₽52.4

$1.32 MX$23.00

-49.24%

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

$29.5K ₽2.3M

$29.7K MX$517.1K

-0.67%

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

$36.2K ₽2.8M

$23.7K MX$412.0K

52.81%

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

$148 ₽11.6K

$82.0 MX$1,428

80.08%

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

$6.43 ₽505

$22.95 MX$400

-71.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.16 ₽406

$30.11 MX$524

-82.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.59 ₽2,796

$52.0 MX$905

-31.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$323

Cinema Ticket

$5.68 ₽446

$4.98 MX$86.6

14.06%

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

$321 ₽25.2K

$197 MX$3,438

62.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,884 ₽540.8K

$5,336 MX$92.9K

29.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.0 ₽6,995

$35.60 MX$620

150.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.14 ₽2,446

$40.33 MX$702

-22.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 ₽8,649

$78.8 MX$1,371

39.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ₽6,952

$88.9 MX$1,549

-0.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$437 ₽34.3K

$947 MX$16.5K

-53.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$305 ₽24.0K

$474 MX$8,254

-35.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$765 ₽60.1K

$1,644 MX$28.6K

-53.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ₽40.2K

$1,211 MX$21.1K

-57.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,031 ₽159.5K

$4,056 MX$70.6K

-49.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,669 ₽131.1K

$6,470 MX$112.7K

-74.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

31.35%

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

Last update for Zhukovsky: July 11, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $437 in Zhukovsky 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Zhukovsky versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $180 in Zhukovsky vs $249 in Playa del Carmen – so Zhukovsky wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 23%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,534 per month in Zhukovsky and $1,884 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 Zhukovsky, 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 $1,023 in Zhukovsky and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 72% less in Zhukovsky. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Zhukovsky, where all-in costs run around $1,023, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Zhukovsky it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Zhukovsky – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Zhukovsky. 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.