Cost of Living Comparison Between Novoshakhtinsk and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Novoshakhtinsk and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,011 per month in Novoshakhtinsk vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,545 per month in Novoshakhtinsk vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,080 per month in Novoshakhtinsk vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Novoshakhtinsk is about 23% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Novoshakhtinsk and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Novoshakhtinsk 27% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.24 ₽944

$11.96 MX$203

-6.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.59 ₽2,991

$47.38 MX$804

-24.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.38 ₽536

$11.75 MX$199

-45.70%

Cappuccino

$2.51 ₽211

$4.12 MX$70.0

-39.08%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 ₽102

$1.40 MX$23.74

-12.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 ₽55.9

$0.91 MX$15.48

-26.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.91 ₽161

$3.21 MX$54.4

-40.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ₽232

$7.07 MX$120

-60.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 ₽82.7

$1.68 MX$28.44

-41.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 ₽57.0

$2.15 MX$36.48

-68.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.37 ₽115

$1.77 MX$30.10

-22.60%

Eggs

$1.54 ₽129

$2.82 MX$47.76

-45.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.37 ₽787

$9.20 MX$156

1.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.47 ₽459

$9.23 MX$157

-40.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.44 ₽877

$12.64 MX$214

-17.41%

Apples (1kg)

$1.73 ₽146

$2.95 MX$50.1

-41.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 ₽126

$1.58 MX$26.79

-5.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ₽135

$2.22 MX$37.70

-27.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.89 ₽243

$2.36 MX$40.09

22.46%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 ₽53.4

$1.99 MX$33.81

-68.34%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 ₽51.7

$1.98 MX$33.58

-68.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 ₽101

$1.24 MX$21.04

-3.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₽65.6

$1.21 MX$20.55

-35.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₽269

$4.60 MX$78.1

-30.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.62 ₽641

$10.52 MX$178

-27.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 ₽82.5

$1.69 MX$28.70

-42.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 ₽142

$2.77 MX$47.06

-38.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 ₽41.76

$0.60 MX$10.22

-16.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 ₽196

$5.24 MX$88.8

-55.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ₽24.41

$3.65 MX$61.9

-92.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.76 ₽400

$5.78 MX$98.1

-17.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 ₽59.1

$1.54 MX$26.09

-54.55%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.0K ₽2.9M

$22.8K MX$386.8K

49.02%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.4K ₽2.8M

$25.8K MX$437.9K

29.44%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$125 ₽10.5K

$90.7 MX$1,538

37.82%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$5.30 ₽446

$25.19 MX$427

-78.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.95 ₽668

$31.75 MX$539

-74.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.63 ₽3,079

$68.8 MX$1,167

-46.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.40 ₽1,714

$29.37 MX$498

-30.54%

Cinema Ticket

$6.15 ₽517

$4.86 MX$82.5

26.54%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$334 ₽28.1K

$226 MX$3,828

48.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,354 ₽450.0K

$4,194 MX$71.1K

27.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.4 ₽6,254

$47.38 MX$804

57.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.47 ₽4,158

$43.45 MX$737

13.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₽9,866

$80.2 MX$1,361

46.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.0 ₽7,395

$91.4 MX$1,550

-3.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$437 ₽36.7K

$1,086 MX$18.4K

-59.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$333 ₽28.0K

$409 MX$6,933

-18.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$723 ₽60.7K

$1,972 MX$33.5K

-63.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 ₽38.8K

$1,281 MX$21.7K

-63.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,148 ₽180.5K

$4,046 MX$68.6K

-46.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,259 ₽105.9K

$6,704 MX$113.7K

-81.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 MX$13.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

83.41%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Novoshakhtinsk: September 5, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $437 in Novoshakhtinsk versus $1,086 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Novoshakhtinsk versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $194 vs $278 – making Novoshakhtinsk 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

Novoshakhtinsk vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 29%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,516 per month in Novoshakhtinsk and $1,958 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Novoshakhtinsk, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Novoshakhtinsk and $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 43% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Novoshakhtinsk, where all-in costs run around $1,011, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Novoshakhtinsk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Novoshakhtinsk – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Novoshakhtinsk. 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.