๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,262 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,161 in Newry.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,158 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,289 in Newry.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,054 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,416 in Newry.
๐Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 42% less than in Newry, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Newry is 60% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Newry
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61MX$201
$19.12ยฃ14.17
-39.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$742
$87.3ยฃ64.7
-51.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.60MX$184
$8.81ยฃ6.53
20.32%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.3
$4.09ยฃ3.03
-12.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.21
$1.95ยฃ1.45
-25.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90MX$15.58
$1.50ยฃ1.11
-40.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$6.23ยฃ4.62
-51.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56MX$79.2
$5.25ยฃ3.89
-13.14%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Newry
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45MX$25.20
$1.81ยฃ1.34
-19.89%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83MX$31.72
$2.05ยฃ1.52
-10.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.92
$2.89ยฃ2.14
-44.29%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.05
$3.24ยฃ2.40
-21.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.54MX$148
$9.97ยฃ7.39
-14.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.47MX$147
$10.50ยฃ7.78
-19.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$189
$13.33ยฃ9.88
-18.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.37
$3.26ยฃ2.42
-16.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.91
$1.91ยฃ1.42
-21.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94MX$33.73
$3.31ยฃ2.45
-41.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.57
$4.11ยฃ3.05
-47.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.05
$1.80ยฃ1.33
2.78%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.00
$1.41ยฃ1.04
55.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.62
$1.38ยฃ1.02
-22.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.81
$1.39ยฃ1.03
-22.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06MX$70.5
$20.29ยฃ15.04
-79.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.46MX$182
$10.83ยฃ8.02
-3.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65MX$28.71
$2.78ยฃ2.06
-40.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55MX$44.23
$3.65ยฃ2.70
-30.14%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Newry
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MX$9.65
$3.40ยฃ2.52
-83.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.20MX$455
$90.2ยฃ66.8
-70.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$54.5
$5.31ยฃ3.93
-40.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.37MX$41.17
$1.71ยฃ1.27
38.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.2
$27.34ยฃ20.26
-88.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.81
$1.94ยฃ1.44
-32.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5KMX$530.2K
$38.8Kยฃ28.7K
-21.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$413.6K
$41.8Kยฃ31.0K
-42.97%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Newry
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.1MX$1,443
$146ยฃ109
-43.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15MX$385
$18.17ยฃ13.46
21.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37MX$510
$43.64ยฃ32.33
-32.70%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Newry
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.2MX$889
$46.46ยฃ34.43
10.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69MX$324
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.89MX$84.9
$11.08ยฃ8.21
-55.87%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Newry
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$199MX$3,449
$1,500ยฃ1,112
-86.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,207MX$90.4K
$8,751ยฃ6,485
-40.50%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Newry
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93MX$624
$83.8ยฃ62.1
-57.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39MX$684
$46.72ยฃ34.62
-15.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.3MX$1,394
$108ยฃ80.0
-25.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6MX$1,520
$87.3ยฃ64.7
0.29%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Newry
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.7K
$1,245ยฃ923
-22.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482MX$8,370
$1,011ยฃ749
-52.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,645MX$28.6K
$2,005ยฃ1,486
-17.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,192MX$20.7K
$1,719ยฃ1,274
-30.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,957MX$68.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,513MX$113.1K
-
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Newry
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$726MX$12.6K
$3,040ยฃ2,253
-76.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
5.62
103.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026
Last update for Newry: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $1,245 in Newry. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐNewry pays 319% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $43 in Playa del Carmen vs $87 in Newry for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $253 vs $320 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
Playa del Carmen vs Newry: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Newry cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 71% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Newry?
On paper, Newry earns 319% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Newry?
Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,245 in Newry. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Newry?
All in, you'll spend $1,262 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,161 in Newry โ a 71% 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 244% 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 Playa del Carmen or Newry?
At $1,262 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,161 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 Playa del Carmen or Newry 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, Playa del Carmen or Newry?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Newry 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 โ expenses run 71% less than in Newry. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared