😐A single person spends $1,640 per month in Zlin vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,261 per month in Zlin vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,881 per month in Zlin vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Zlin costs about 27% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Zlin sits 22% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zlin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.17Kč 191
$11.73MX$203
-21.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.92Kč 770
$41.62MX$721
-11.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.12Kč 128
$10.64MX$184
-42.48%
Cappuccino
$2.95Kč 61.4
$3.52MX$61.0
-16.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84Kč 38.31
$1.51MX$26.17
21.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49Kč 31.16
$0.97MX$16.87
53.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.28Kč 47.47
$2.95MX$51.1
-22.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74Kč 57.1
$4.45MX$77.2
-38.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zlin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03Kč 21.40
$1.38MX$23.97
-25.36%
White Bread(500g)
$1.33Kč 27.77
$1.89MX$32.78
-29.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.42Kč 50.4
$1.64MX$28.37
47.56%
Eggs
$3.50Kč 73.0
$2.51MX$43.42
39.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.87Kč 268
$8.34MX$145
54.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.24Kč 193
$8.34MX$145
10.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.32Kč 278
$10.73MX$186
24.14%
Apples(1kg)
$1.84Kč 38.29
$2.60MX$45.12
-29.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56Kč 32.48
$1.46MX$25.25
6.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27Kč 47.41
$1.90MX$32.94
19.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.15Kč 65.7
$2.08MX$35.98
51.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.14Kč 23.67
$1.78MX$30.77
-35.96%
Onion(1kg)
$1.02Kč 21.31
$2.19MX$37.87
-53.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49Kč 31.10
$1.04MX$18.02
43.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65Kč 13.50
$1.08MX$18.66
-39.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.43Kč 155
$4.08MX$70.7
82.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.97Kč 145
$10.32MX$179
-32.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.75Kč 15.56
$1.71MX$29.67
-56.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16Kč 45.03
$2.58MX$44.63
-16.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Zlin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.15Kč 23.98
$0.51MX$8.83
125.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.44Kč 593
$26.46MX$459
7.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.28Kč 47.58
$3.26MX$56.5
-30.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10Kč 22.84
$2.49MX$43.17
-55.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.91Kč 290
$3.25MX$56.3
328.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.70Kč 35.41
$1.31MX$22.65
29.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3KKč 485.5K
$30.3KMX$524.7K
-23.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3KKč 528.3K
$23.4KMX$406.0K
8.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zlin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$312Kč 6,503
$82.9MX$1,436
276.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.51Kč 553
$22.22MX$385
19.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.13Kč 420
$29.34MX$508
-31.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zlin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.23Kč 985
$51.6MX$895
-8.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.24Kč 193
$18.32MX$317
-49.56%
Cinema Ticket
$9.77Kč 204
$5.07MX$87.8
92.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zlin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$897Kč 18.7K
$201MX$3,480
346.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.4KKč 300.5K
$5,212MX$90.3K
176.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zlin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.7Kč 1,788
$36.92MX$640
132.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.21Kč 713
$39.79MX$689
-14.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.1Kč 2,004
$78.5MX$1,360
22.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125Kč 2,600
$87.1MX$1,509
43.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zlin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$716Kč 14.9K
$973MX$16.9K
-26.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$594Kč 12.4K
$468MX$8,105
27.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,145Kč 23.9K
$1,641MX$28.4K
-30.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$845Kč 17.6K
$1,221MX$21.2K
-30.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,269Kč 109.8K
$3,946MX$68.4K
33.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,677Kč 76.7K
$6,498MX$112.6K
-43.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zlin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,544Kč 32.2K
$664MX$11.5K
132.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.84
11.42
-57.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zlin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Zlin 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 133% higher in Zlin, 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 $37.00 in Zlin versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $257 in Zlin vs $249 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Zlin vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Zlin?
Yes – Zlin is pricier by about 27%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $2,461 per month in Zlin 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 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 Zlin vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,640 in Zlin 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 public transport?
Public transport costs about 7% 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 Zlin or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Zlin at $1,640. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Zlin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Zlin 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, Zlin 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, Zlin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.