🙂A single person spends $939 per month in Zlatoust vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,443 per month in Zlatoust vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,947 per month in Zlatoust vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Zlatoust is about 26% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Zlatoust and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Zlatoust30% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zlatoust
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.52₽490
$11.67MX$202
-44.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.76₽2,833
$41.88MX$726
-9.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.68₽426
$10.40MX$180
-45.38%
Cappuccino
$2.30₽173
$3.61MX$62.6
-36.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08₽81.1
$1.47MX$25.45
-26.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49₽36.65
$0.91MX$15.80
-46.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.43₽107
$3.03MX$52.6
-52.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52₽189
$4.47MX$77.4
-43.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zlatoust
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10₽82.6
$1.38MX$23.83
-20.29%
White Bread(500g)
$0.70₽52.5
$1.84MX$31.93
-61.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39₽104
$1.61MX$27.82
-13.66%
Eggs
$1.80₽135
$2.57MX$44.52
-29.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.78₽809
$8.49MX$147
26.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.87₽366
$8.49MX$147
-42.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.96₽673
$10.99MX$190
-18.47%
Apples(1kg)
$1.80₽135
$2.73MX$47.25
-34.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.90₽142
$1.50MX$25.92
26.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89₽142
$1.96MX$33.93
-3.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.71₽204
$2.12MX$36.70
27.83%
Potato(1kg)
$0.86₽64.5
$1.86MX$32.30
-53.76%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₽50.5
$2.17MX$37.67
-69.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.41₽106
$1.07MX$18.59
31.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67₽50.1
$1.05MX$18.18
-36.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.01₽226
$4.19MX$72.6
-28.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.54₽416
$10.28MX$178
-46.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00₽75.3
$1.67MX$28.87
-40.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86₽140
$2.49MX$43.12
-25.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Zlatoust
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.49₽36.54
$0.54MX$9.37
-9.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.27MX$455
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.87₽140
$3.10MX$53.8
-39.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35₽26.58
$2.46MX$42.66
-85.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.42₽482
$3.24MX$56.1
98.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78₽58.6
$1.26MX$21.83
-38.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.6K₽2.5M
$30.2KMX$522.8K
11.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.3K₽2.7M
$23.4KMX$406.3K
50.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zlatoust
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$108₽8,130
$84.0MX$1,456
28.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.85₽439
$22.21MX$385
-73.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.90₽593
$29.65MX$514
-73.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zlatoust
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.05₽2,630
$52.6MX$912
-33.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.34MX$318
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.01₽376
$4.95MX$85.7
1.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zlatoust
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$318₽23.8K
$198MX$3,438
60.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,093₽532.3K
$5,322MX$92.2K
33.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zlatoust
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.8₽5,165
$35.95MX$623
91.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.05₽3,306
$40.06MX$694
9.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115₽8,604
$78.8MX$1,365
45.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107₽8,061
$86.5MX$1,499
24.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zlatoust
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$439₽33.0K
$977MX$16.9K
-55.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$307₽23.0K
$471MX$8,158
-34.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$755₽56.7K
$1,595MX$27.6K
-52.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$500₽37.5K
$1,215MX$21.1K
-58.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,032MX$69.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,579MX$114.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zlatoust
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654₽49.1K
$714MX$12.4K
-8.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15.33
11.42
34.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zlatoust: April 22, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $439 in Zlatoust versus $977 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 9% 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 $38 in Zlatoust versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $252 – making Zlatoust 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
Zlatoust vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Zlatoust?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 34%, 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 $1,409 per month in Zlatoust and $1,891 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 Zlatoust, 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 Zlatoust vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $939 in Zlatoust and $1,261 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 $318 per month in Zlatoust and $198 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Zlatoust or Playa del Carmen?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Zlatoust, where all-in costs run around $939, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,261. In Zlatoust it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Zlatoust or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Zlatoust – 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 Zlatoust. 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.