🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,365 in Nowy Sacz.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,059 in Nowy Sacz.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,754 in Nowy Sacz.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 8% less than in Nowy Sacz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Nowy Sacz is 2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Nowy Sacz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$9.35zł 35.48
28.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
$40.30zł 153
3.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$8.24zł 31.26
30.46%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$3.18zł 12.05
10.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$2.18zł 8.26
-33.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
$1.70zł 6.47
-48.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
$2.95zł 11.18
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
$3.58zł 13.57
25.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Nowy Sacz
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.05zł 3.97
36.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$1.30zł 4.91
41.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
$1.59zł 6.02
-1.26%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$3.38zł 12.83
-25.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$7.62zł 28.90
8.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$6.23zł 23.63
35.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$9.92zł 37.64
7.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
$1.15zł 4.36
126.96%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
$1.55zł 5.89
-7.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
$1.58zł 5.98
24.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
$2.60zł 9.88
-19.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
$0.97zł 3.68
90.72%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
$1.25zł 4.73
73.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
$1.37zł 5.18
-24.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$0.65zł 2.45
64.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$5.44zł 20.65
-24.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
$6.74zł 25.58
50.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
$1.01zł 3.85
66.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
$1.82zł 6.91
39.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Nowy Sacz
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
$1.06zł 4.03
-51.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
$32.91zł 125
-20.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$2.23zł 8.47
44.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
$0.77zł 2.91
212.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
$10.64zł 40.36
-69.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$1.75zł 6.63
-24.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
$34.1Kzł 129.3K
-12.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$30.6Kzł 116.0K
-22.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Nowy Sacz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$291zł 1,104
-71.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
$7.67zł 29.12
199.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$13.54zł 51.4
122.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Nowy Sacz
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
$37.05zł 141
40.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
$19.84zł 75.3
-6.60%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$8.56zł 32.49
-41.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Nowy Sacz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
$266zł 1,008
-25.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
$2,272zł 8,619
134.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Nowy Sacz
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
$62.1zł 235
-42.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$38.65zł 147
4.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
$58.6zł 222
34.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
$75.5zł 286
17.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Nowy Sacz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
$556zł 2,109
70.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
$460zł 1,744
3.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
$1,106zł 4,198
48.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
$967zł 3,668
25.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
$1,958zł 7,430
107.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.7K
$1,172zł 4,448
451.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Nowy Sacz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
$958zł 3,636
-31.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.28
81.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Last update for Nowy Sacz: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $947 in Playa del Carmen and $556 in Nowy Sacz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Nowy Sacz pays 47% 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: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $40.00 in Nowy Sacz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $202 per month, with Nowy Sacz 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 Nowy Sacz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and in Nowy Sacz?
Playa del Carmen and Nowy Sacz differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($1,256 vs $1,365 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Nowy Sacz?
On paper, salaries run 47% lower in Nowy Sacz. 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 Nowy Sacz?
Rent for a central apartment: $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $556 in Nowy Sacz. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $197 in Playa del Carmen versus $266 in Nowy Sacz. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Nowy Sacz?
Shoppers in Nowy Sacz pay roughly 23% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Nowy Sacz?
At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,365 in Nowy Sacz, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Nowy Sacz. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Nowy Sacz more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Nowy Sacz, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Nowy Sacz?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Nowy Sacz 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 9% less than in Nowy Sacz. 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