🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,334 in Nowy Sacz.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,027 in Nowy Sacz.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,720 in Nowy Sacz.
🙂Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 3% less than in Nowy Sacz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 3% below, Nowy Sacz is 0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Nowy Sacz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$9.78zł 35.67
19.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$720
$39.99zł 146
4.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$8.36zł 30.49
27.27%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.9
$3.17zł 11.55
11.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.12
$2.19zł 7.99
-31.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.84
$1.65zł 6.03
-41.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$2.96zł 10.80
-0.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$3.56zł 12.98
25.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Nowy Sacz
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.93
$1.01zł 3.69
36.63%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.72
$1.23zł 4.47
53.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.32
$1.61zł 5.88
1.86%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.34
$3.35zł 12.19
-25.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$7.72zł 28.13
8.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$6.27zł 22.86
33.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$9.95zł 36.28
7.84%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.04
$1.19zł 4.33
118.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.20
$1.54zł 5.60
-5.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.87
$1.57zł 5.74
21.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.91
$2.58zł 9.40
-19.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.71
$0.93zł 3.38
91.40%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.80
$1.20zł 4.38
82.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.99
$1.37zł 4.99
-24.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.62
$0.64zł 2.34
68.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.6
$5.31zł 19.34
-23.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$7.06zł 25.73
46.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.61
$1.02zł 3.70
67.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.54
$1.80zł 6.55
43.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Nowy Sacz
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$1.10zł 4.02
-53.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$458
$32.66zł 119
-18.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$2.15zł 7.85
51.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.09
$0.77zł 2.79
223.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.2
$10.50zł 38.28
-69.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.61
$1.75zł 6.39
-25.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.7K
$33.3Kzł 121.4K
-9.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$405.3K
$30.9Kzł 112.5K
-24.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Nowy Sacz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,433
$294zł 1,071
-71.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$7.73zł 28.17
187.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$13.77zł 50.2
113.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Nowy Sacz
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$893
$36.42zł 133
41.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
$19.26zł 70.2
-4.88%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.6
$8.92zł 32.52
-43.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Nowy Sacz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,473
$269zł 980
-25.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$2,280zł 8,312
128.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Nowy Sacz
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$639
$60.7zł 221
-39.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$39.16zł 143
1.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,357
$60.3zł 220
30.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,506
$75.5zł 275
15.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Nowy Sacz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$556zł 2,026
74.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,090
$444zł 1,619
5.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$1,141zł 4,160
43.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$969zł 3,533
25.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.3K
$2,034zł 7,415
93.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.4K
$1,259zł 4,589
416.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Nowy Sacz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
$1,000zł 3,647
-33.64%
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: June 2, 2026
Last update for Nowy Sacz: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $556 in Nowy Sacz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Nowy Sacz pays 51% 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 Nowy Sacz?
Playa del Carmen and Nowy Sacz differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($1,297 vs $1,334 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, Nowy Sacz earns 51% 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 Nowy Sacz?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 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 $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $269 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 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 Playa del Carmen or Nowy Sacz?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,334 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 3% 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