😐A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,028 in Stara Pazova, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,535 in Stara Pazova, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,042 in Stara Pazova, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 23% more than Stara Pazova, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Stara Pazova are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Stara Pazova23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Stara Pazova
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$204
$8.68RSD 891
35.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$731
$34.62RSD 3,553
21.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$183
$5.75RSD 590
82.78%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.5
$2.01RSD 206
78.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.31
$1.97RSD 202
-23.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.96
$1.21RSD 124
-23.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.6
$2.30RSD 237
28.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.9
$2.71RSD 278
62.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Stara Pazova
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.35
$1.38RSD 142
1.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.87
$0.65RSD 67.1
189.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$27.19
$1.86RSD 191
-16.13%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.50
$2.62RSD 269
-0.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$145
$9.11RSD 935
-8.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$146
$6.65RSD 683
25.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$189
$11.08RSD 1,137
-1.99%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$47.31
$1.26RSD 130
115.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.25
$1.57RSD 161
-3.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.67
$1.77RSD 182
5.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.19
$1.72RSD 177
27.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.40
$0.95RSD 97.5
95.79%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.90
$0.96RSD 98.4
132.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.63
$0.70RSD 72.2
52.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.94
$0.65RSD 66.3
67.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$73.0
$4.03RSD 414
3.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$182
$5.37RSD 551
94.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.91
$0.80RSD 82.2
107.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.56
$1.06RSD 109
146.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Stara Pazova
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.45
$0.91RSD 93.4
-40.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$456
$35.15RSD 3,608
-25.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.7
$1.04RSD 107
196.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.94
$0.69RSD 70.6
247.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.5
$4.92RSD 505
-36.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.87
$1.77RSD 181
-25.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$519.9K
$30.9KRSD 3.2M
-3.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$406.8K
$26.4KRSD 2.7M
-11.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Stara Pazova
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,418
$145RSD 14.9K
-43.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$393
$13.99RSD 1,436
61.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$524
$24.33RSD 2,497
23.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Stara Pazova
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$923
$31.12RSD 3,195
70.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$321
$16.37RSD 1,680
12.34%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.8
$4.76RSD 489
3.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Stara Pazova
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,502
$183RSD 18.8K
9.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$90.2K
$4,005RSD 411.1K
29.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Stara Pazova
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$627
$55.4RSD 5,683
-35.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$700
$14.63RSD 1,502
174.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,390
$100RSD 10.3K
-20.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,508
$121RSD 12.4K
-28.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Stara Pazova
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$17.1K
$381RSD 39.1K
157.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,206
$294RSD 30.2K
60.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.8K
$571RSD 58.6K
189.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$21.0K
$413RSD 42.3K
191.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$69.0K
$1,489RSD 152.9K
165.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$115.2K
$1,202RSD 123.4K
449.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Stara Pazova
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.8K
$645RSD 66.2K
4.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
8
42.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Last update for Stara Pazova: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $381 in Stara Pazova. 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 5% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $35.00 in Stara Pazova. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $196 – making Stara Pazova the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Stara Pazova: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stara Pazova cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 23%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,542 in Stara Pazova. 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 Stara Pazova, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Stara Pazova?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $1,028 in Stara Pazova. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 34% less in Stara Pazova. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Stara Pazova?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Stara Pazova, where all-in costs run around $1,028, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Stara Pazova it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Stara Pazova more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Stara Pazova – 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 Stara Pazova?
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 Stara Pazova. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared