😐A single person spends $1,930 per month in Zlin vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,631 per month in Zlin vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,333 per month in Zlin vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Zlin costs about 49% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Zlin sits 40% 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
$9.77Kč 203
$11.71MX$198
-16.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.77Kč 764
$46.59MX$788
-21.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.85Kč 142
$11.65MX$197
-41.20%
Cappuccino
$3.31Kč 68.8
$4.09MX$69.2
-19.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15Kč 44.66
$1.37MX$23.23
56.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68Kč 34.99
$0.83MX$14.09
102.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.47Kč 51.3
$3.35MX$56.7
-26.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96Kč 61.6
$6.91MX$117
-57.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zlin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07Kč 22.29
$1.73MX$29.20
-38.15%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25Kč 26.06
$2.26MX$38.21
-44.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.34Kč 48.73
$1.77MX$29.91
32.20%
Eggs
$3.67Kč 76.3
$2.73MX$46.19
34.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.81Kč 287
$9.18MX$155
50.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05Kč 209
$8.92MX$151
12.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.91Kč 310
$12.60MX$213
18.33%
Apples(1kg)
$1.74Kč 36.19
$3.02MX$51.1
-42.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81Kč 37.66
$1.57MX$26.55
15.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22Kč 46.18
$2.13MX$35.93
4.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.59Kč 74.6
$2.26MX$38.28
58.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11Kč 23.11
$2.00MX$33.88
-44.50%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97Kč 20.15
$2.06MX$34.90
-52.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49Kč 30.98
$1.18MX$19.94
26.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68Kč 14.18
$1.20MX$20.35
-43.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.58Kč 157
$4.63MX$78.4
63.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.00Kč 145
$10.69MX$181
-34.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87Kč 18.16
$1.62MX$27.38
-46.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03Kč 42.22
$2.88MX$48.70
-29.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Zlin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91Kč 18.94
$0.57MX$9.69
59.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.13Kč 606
$29.83MX$504
-2.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.81Kč 58.4
$5.45MX$92.1
-48.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.72Kč 35.84
$3.70MX$62.6
-53.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.31Kč 339
$5.98MX$101
172.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.76Kč 36.59
$1.55MX$26.26
13.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9KKč 662.4K
$22.3KMX$377.4K
42.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5KKč 634.4K
$25.9KMX$438.7K
17.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zlin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$437Kč 9,087
$89.1MX$1,507
390.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.23Kč 421
$25.04MX$423
-19.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.29Kč 422
$31.50MX$532
-35.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zlin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.4Kč 1,088
$67.8MX$1,146
-22.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.41Kč 258
$28.92MX$489
-57.09%
Cinema Ticket
$11.15Kč 232
$5.05MX$85.4
120.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zlin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263Kč 5,463
$225MX$3,803
16.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,636Kč 117.1K
$4,222MX$71.4K
33.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zlin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$116Kč 2,409
$47.44MX$802
144.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.64Kč 741
$44.98MX$760
-20.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139Kč 2,886
$82.0MX$1,386
69.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116Kč 2,410
$92.1MX$1,557
25.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zlin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$819Kč 17.0K
$1,069MX$18.1K
-23.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$691Kč 14.4K
$405MX$6,852
70.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,237Kč 25.7K
$1,935MX$32.7K
-36.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$934Kč 19.4K
$1,301MX$22.0K
-28.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,280Kč 109.7K
$3,995MX$67.5K
32.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,656Kč 76.0K
$6,626MX$112.0K
-44.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zlin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,576Kč 32.8K
$749MX$12.7K
110.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
11.45
-53.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zlin: August 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $819 in Zlin versus $1,069 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 110% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $272 vs $277 – making Zlin 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
Zlin vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Zlin?
Yes – Zlin is pricier by about 49%, 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 $2,895 per month in Zlin and $1,940 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 $1,930 in Zlin and $1,293 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 2% 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 $1,293, than in Zlin at $1,930. 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.