😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,135 in Newry versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,212 in Newry versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,290 in Newry versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Newry is roughly 65% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Newry is 59% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Newry
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.70£13.93
$11.73MX$203
59.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.3£66.5
$41.62MX$719
114.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84£6.58
$10.64MX$184
-16.92%
Cappuccino
$4.03£3.00
$3.52MX$60.8
14.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03£1.51
$1.51MX$26.09
34.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51£1.13
$0.97MX$16.82
55.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.89£4.39
$2.95MX$51.0
99.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.28£3.94
$4.45MX$77.0
18.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Newry
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80£1.34
$1.38MX$23.90
30.43%
White Bread(500g)
$2.00£1.49
$1.89MX$32.69
5.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.85£2.12
$1.64MX$28.29
73.78%
Eggs
$3.17£2.36
$2.51MX$43.30
26.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.86£7.34
$8.34MX$144
18.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.30£7.68
$8.34MX$144
23.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.38£9.97
$10.73MX$185
24.70%
Apples(1kg)
$3.30£2.46
$2.60MX$45.00
26.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.91£1.42
$1.46MX$25.18
30.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.43£2.56
$1.90MX$32.84
80.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.09£3.04
$2.08MX$35.88
96.63%
Potato(1kg)
$1.81£1.35
$1.78MX$30.68
1.69%
Onion(1kg)
$1.47£1.10
$2.19MX$37.76
-32.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.38£1.02
$1.04MX$17.97
32.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33£0.99
$1.08MX$18.60
23.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$20.00£14.90
$4.08MX$70.5
390.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.95£8.16
$10.32MX$178
6.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.68£2.00
$1.71MX$29.59
56.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82£2.84
$2.58MX$44.50
48.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Newry
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.29£2.45
$0.51MX$8.81
545.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$89.9£67.0
$26.46MX$457
239.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.46£4.07
$3.26MX$56.4
67.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.64£1.22
$2.49MX$43.05
-34.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.49£20.48
$3.25MX$56.1
745.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.98£1.47
$1.31MX$22.59
51.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.6K£28.7K
$30.3KMX$523.2K
27.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.1K£32.1K
$23.4KMX$404.9K
83.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Newry
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$149£111
$82.9MX$1,432
79.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.29£13.62
$22.22MX$384
-17.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.52£31.67
$29.34MX$507
44.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Newry
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.05£34.31
$51.6MX$892
-10.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.81£8.05
$5.07MX$87.5
113.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Newry
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,479£1,102
$201MX$3,470
636.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,552£6,371
$5,212MX$90.1K
64.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Newry
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.1£62.6
$36.92MX$638
127.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.00£35.01
$39.79MX$688
18.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109£81.3
$78.5MX$1,356
39.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.3£64.3
$87.1MX$1,505
-0.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Newry
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,209£901
$973MX$16.8K
24.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,004£748
$468MX$8,082
114.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,042£1,521
$1,641MX$28.4K
24.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,709£1,273
$1,221MX$21.1K
39.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,643£3,459
$3,946MX$68.2K
17.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,498MX$112.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Newry
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,445£1,821
$664MX$11.5K
268.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.62
11.42
-50.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Newry: June 2, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,209 in Newry and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Newry pays 268% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $89.0 in Newry vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $249 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
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
Newry vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Newry?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 65% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Newry or Playa del Carmen?
Newry pays 268% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Newry and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,209 in Newry versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Newry vs Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,135 per month in Newry versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – a 65% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 240% less than in Newry. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Newry or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,135 in Newry, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Newry. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Newry or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Newry, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Newry or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Newry and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in Newry. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.