Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Novy Jicin Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Novy Jicin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,293 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,721 in Novy Jicin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,450 in Novy Jicin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,374 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,178 in Novy Jicin, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 25% cheaper than Novy Jicin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Novy Jicin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Novy Jicin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71 MX$198
$9.49 Kč 197
23.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.59 MX$788
$45.57 Kč 947
2.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.65 MX$197
$9.57 Kč 199
21.73%
Cappuccino
$4.09 MX$69.2
$3.55 Kč 73.9
15.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 MX$23.23
$1.73 Kč 36.03
-20.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$14.09
$1.35 Kč 28.15
-38.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.35 MX$56.7
$1.85 Kč 38.52
81.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91 MX$117
$3.18 Kč 66.1
117.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Novy Jicin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 MX$29.20
$1.22 Kč 25.36
41.80%
White Bread (500g)
$2.26 MX$38.21
$1.46 Kč 30.38
54.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 MX$29.91
$2.41 Kč 50.1
-26.56%
Eggs
$2.73 MX$46.19
$3.97 Kč 82.5
-31.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.18 MX$155
$13.28 Kč 276
-30.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.92 MX$151
$9.44 Kč 196
-5.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.60 MX$213
$17.34 Kč 360
-27.34%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 MX$51.1
$1.88 Kč 39.09
60.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 MX$26.55
$1.86 Kč 38.66
-15.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 MX$35.93
$2.22 Kč 46.05
-4.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.28
$3.44 Kč 71.6
-34.30%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 MX$33.88
$1.08 Kč 22.41
85.19%
Onion (1kg)
$2.06 MX$34.90
$1.15 Kč 23.92
79.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 MX$19.94
$1.64 Kč 34.04
-28.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.35
$0.75 Kč 15.50
60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.63 MX$78.4
$7.58 Kč 158
-38.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.69 MX$181
$7.39 Kč 154
44.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.38
$0.44 Kč 9.16
268.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$48.70
$1.72 Kč 35.79
67.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Novy Jicin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 MX$9.69
$1.26 Kč 26.09
-54.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.83 MX$504
$26.04 Kč 541
14.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 MX$92.1
$2.91 Kč 60.5
87.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.70 MX$62.6
$1.95 Kč 40.59
89.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.98 MX$101
$17.20 Kč 358
-65.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 MX$26.26
$1.98 Kč 41.14
-21.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3K MX$377.4K
$32.1K Kč 667.2K
-30.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K MX$438.7K
$31.2K Kč 649.4K
-16.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Novy Jicin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.1 MX$1,507
$308 Kč 6,407
-71.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04 MX$423
$24.22 Kč 504
3.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.50 MX$532
$19.92 Kč 414
58.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Novy Jicin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.8 MX$1,146
$58.0 Kč 1,206
16.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.92 MX$489
$17.42 Kč 362
66.02%
Cinema Ticket
$5.05 MX$85.4
$7.09 Kč 147
-28.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Novy Jicin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$225 MX$3,803
$241 Kč 5,002
-6.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,222 MX$71.4K
$12.1K Kč 251.6K
-65.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Novy Jicin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44 MX$802
$93.5 Kč 1,943
-49.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98 MX$760
$39.53 Kč 822
13.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.0 MX$1,386
$107 Kč 2,226
-23.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1 MX$1,557
$129 Kč 2,684
-28.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Novy Jicin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,069 MX$18.1K
$732 Kč 15.2K
46.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$405 MX$6,852
$628 Kč 13.1K
-35.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,935 MX$32.7K
$1,266 Kč 26.3K
52.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,301 MX$22.0K
$956 Kč 19.9K
36.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,995 MX$67.5K
$4,768 Kč 99.1K
-16.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,626 MX$112.0K
$3,704 Kč 77.0K
78.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Novy Jicin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$749 MX$12.7K
$1,669 Kč 34.7K
-55.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
4.64
146.77%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Last update for Novy Jicin: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $732 in Novy Jicin. 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 123% higher in Novy Jicin, 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $46.00 in Novy Jicin. Groceries tell a different story – $277 in Playa del Carmen vs $280 in Novy Jicin – 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
Playa del Carmen vs Novy Jicin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Novy Jicin cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Novy Jicin is pricier by about 33%, 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 $1,940 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,582 in Novy Jicin. 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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 15% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $225 per month in Playa del Carmen and $241 in Novy Jicin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Novy Jicin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,293, than in Novy Jicin at $1,721. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Novy Jicin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Novy Jicin 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, Playa del Carmen or Novy Jicin?
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, Novy Jicin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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