😐A single person spends $1,587 per month in Zlin vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,218 per month in Zlin vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,849 per month in Zlin vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Zlin costs about 26% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Zlin sits 19% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zlin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.13Kč 194
$11.99MX$209
-23.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.06Kč 785
$41.78MX$728
-11.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.25Kč 132
$10.75MX$187
-41.86%
Cappuccino
$2.89Kč 61.3
$3.50MX$60.9
-17.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86Kč 39.41
$1.45MX$25.22
28.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43Kč 30.32
$0.88MX$15.41
62.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.26Kč 47.96
$2.95MX$51.3
-23.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86Kč 60.5
$4.51MX$78.6
-36.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zlin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06Kč 22.52
$1.43MX$24.94
-25.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29Kč 27.37
$1.84MX$31.99
-29.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.38Kč 50.5
$1.57MX$27.31
51.59%
Eggs
$3.50Kč 74.1
$2.51MX$43.74
39.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86Kč 273
$8.28MX$144
55.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49Kč 201
$8.43MX$147
12.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.88Kč 273
$10.68MX$186
20.60%
Apples(1kg)
$1.82Kč 38.56
$2.61MX$45.43
-30.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52Kč 32.19
$1.44MX$25.04
5.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.23Kč 47.32
$1.96MX$34.16
13.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.21Kč 68.0
$2.09MX$36.47
53.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13Kč 23.95
$1.85MX$32.24
-38.92%
Onion(1kg)
$1.02Kč 21.59
$2.17MX$37.74
-53.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48Kč 31.41
$1.03MX$17.96
43.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66Kč 13.93
$1.07MX$18.70
-38.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.66Kč 162
$4.10MX$71.4
86.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.51Kč 138
$10.17MX$177
-35.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.78Kč 16.54
$1.68MX$29.17
-53.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16Kč 45.79
$2.53MX$43.98
-14.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Zlin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.19Kč 25.12
$0.51MX$8.87
133.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.61Kč 585
$26.04MX$453
6.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.32Kč 49.12
$3.23MX$56.3
-28.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.06Kč 22.43
$2.41MX$41.88
-56.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.26Kč 302
$3.23MX$56.2
341.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.74Kč 36.82
$1.32MX$23.00
31.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3KKč 494.8K
$29.7KMX$517.1K
-21.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7KKč 543.5K
$23.7KMX$412.0K
8.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zlin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$308Kč 6,526
$82.0MX$1,428
275.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.41Kč 560
$22.95MX$400
15.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.61Kč 416
$30.11MX$524
-34.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zlin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.87Kč 972
$52.0MX$905
-11.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.40Kč 199
$18.53MX$323
-49.27%
Cinema Ticket
$9.84Kč 208
$4.98MX$86.6
97.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zlin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$899Kč 19.0K
$197MX$3,438
355.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.4KKč 306.0K
$5,336MX$92.9K
170.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zlin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.1Kč 1,761
$35.60MX$620
133.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.32Kč 727
$40.33MX$702
-14.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.3Kč 2,083
$78.8MX$1,371
24.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126Kč 2,661
$88.9MX$1,549
41.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zlin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$702Kč 14.9K
$947MX$16.5K
-25.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$580Kč 12.3K
$474MX$8,254
22.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,169Kč 24.8K
$1,644MX$28.6K
-28.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$835Kč 17.7K
$1,211MX$21.1K
-31.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,073Kč 107.5K
$4,056MX$70.6K
25.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,541Kč 75.0K
$6,470MX$112.7K
-45.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zlin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,519Kč 32.2K
$654MX$11.4K
132.31%
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: July 11, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $702 in Zlin 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.
💰Salaries run about 132% 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 – $255 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 26%, 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 $2,380 per month in Zlin and $1,884 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,587 in Zlin and $1,256 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 6% 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 Zlin or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Zlin at $1,587. 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.