Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Novy Urengoy

For one person, living is cheaper in Novy Urengoy: $1,097 a month against $1,202 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $1,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Novy Urengoy, Russia
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,202
/mo nomad
Novy Urengoy
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,097
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Novy Urengoy

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Novy Urengoy actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,202 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,097 in Novy Urengoy, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,202
  • Novy Urengoy $1,097

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,711 in Novy Urengoy, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Novy Urengoy $1,711

A family of three spends $2,962 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,326 in Novy Urengoy, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,962
  • Novy Urengoy $2,326

Playa del Carmen costs about 10% more than Novy Urengoy, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Playa del Carmen and Novy Urengoy are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 11% lower, Novy Urengoy 19% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Novy Urengoy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.67 MX$199
$12.50 ₽1,023
-14.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.80 MX$815
$41.07 ₽3,361
6.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.79 MX$219
$6.47 ₽530
82.23%
Cappuccino
$3.79 MX$70.5
$2.95 ₽241
28.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 MX$24.14
$1.21 ₽99.1
7.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$15.51
$0.61 ₽50.3
36.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 MX$58.6
$1.81 ₽148
74.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$91.8
$3.01 ₽246
63.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Novy Urengoy
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.22
$1.16 ₽94.9
21.55%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$40.86
$0.83 ₽67.6
165.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 MX$27.40
$1.52 ₽124
-3.29%
Eggs
$2.50 MX$46.46
$1.38 ₽113
81.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.29 MX$136
$10.69 ₽875
-31.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.95 MX$148
$5.43 ₽445
46.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.86 MX$239
$9.80 ₽802
31.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 MX$53.9
$1.95 ₽160
48.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 MX$25.74
$2.08 ₽170
-33.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.49 MX$46.35
$1.69 ₽138
47.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 MX$37.77
$3.29 ₽269
-38.30%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.68
$0.83 ₽68.3
143.37%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 MX$35.42
$0.58 ₽47.08
227.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 MX$21.30
$1.39 ₽114
-17.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 MX$23.05
$0.62 ₽50.3
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$79.5
$3.52 ₽288
21.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.81 MX$183
$8.97 ₽734
9.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 MX$29.51
$1.30 ₽106
22.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 MX$51.1
$2.29 ₽187
20.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Novy Urengoy
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$9.58
$0.51 ₽41.66
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.39 MX$510
$25.28 ₽2,069
8.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.76 MX$88.6
$2.29 ₽188
107.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.25 MX$60.5
$0.31 ₽25.62
948.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$100
$6.39 ₽523
-15.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 MX$28.44
$0.82 ₽66.8
86.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$394.8K
$49.1K ₽4.0M
-56.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$432.9K
$41.2K ₽3.4M
-43.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Novy Urengoy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.5 MX$1,554
$149 ₽12.2K
-44.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.19 MX$431
$6.52 ₽533
255.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.61 MX$514
$7.72 ₽632
257.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Novy Urengoy
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 MX$1,050
$41.73 ₽3,415
35.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.19 MX$525
$27.14 ₽2,221
3.87%
Cinema Ticket
$5.00 MX$93.1
$5.64 ₽462
-11.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Novy Urengoy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,854
$304 ₽24.8K
-31.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,231 MX$97.3K
$7,150 ₽585.1K
-26.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Novy Urengoy
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.45 MX$809
$93.4 ₽7,647
-53.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.54 MX$792
$60.8 ₽4,974
-30.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.8 MX$1,354
$119 ₽9,753
-38.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,645
$120 ₽9,805
-26.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Novy Urengoy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$995 MX$18.5K
$550 ₽45.0K
80.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$382 MX$7,116
$284 ₽23.2K
34.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,674 MX$31.2K
$827 ₽67.6K
102.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,081 MX$20.1K
$510 ₽41.8K
111.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,909 MX$72.7K
$2,416 ₽197.7K
61.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,138 MX$114.2K
$1,484 ₽121.4K
313.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Novy Urengoy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$832 MX$15.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
21.33
-46.32%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: November 2, 2026

Last update for Novy Urengoy: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$382
Novy Urengoy
$284 25.8% $98
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$257
Novy Urengoy
$211 18% $46
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$200
Novy Urengoy
$177 11.5% $23
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$134
Novy Urengoy
$164 21.8% $29
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$111
Novy Urengoy
$177 59.1% $66
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$66
Novy Urengoy
$53 20.2% $13
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Novy Urengoy
$31 38.2% $19

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Playa del Carmen versus $550 in Novy Urengoy. 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 $44 in Playa del Carmen versus $41 in Novy Urengoy. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $257 vs $211 – making Novy Urengoy the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇷🇺 Novy Urengoy
🕒 Local time
21:44 9:44 PM
07:44 7:44 AM
10 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
124,112
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

RUB, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 18.61 MXN (100 MXN = 5.37 USD). 1 EUR = 20.95 MXN (100 MXN = 4.77 EUR).

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 81.84 RUB (100 RUB = 1.22 USD). 1 EUR = 92.13 RUB (100 RUB = 1.09 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Novy Urengoy 10,280 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Novy Urengoy

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Urengoy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Novy Urengoy?
Playa del Carmen costs about 10% more than Novy Urengoy, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Novy Urengoy?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,804 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,645 in Novy Urengoy. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Novy Urengoy?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Novy Urengoy, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $550 there versus $995 in Playa del Carmen.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Novy Urengoy?
Kindergarten costs $207 per month in Playa del Carmen and $304 in Novy Urengoy. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or in Novy Urengoy?
Groceries cost about 22% more in Playa del Carmen, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Novy Urengoy?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,202 in Playa del Carmen and $1,097 in Novy Urengoy. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Playa del Carmen or Novy Urengoy?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,097 in Novy Urengoy to $1,202 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, Novy Urengoy is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 9% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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