😐A single person spends $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,047 in Stara Pazova, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,536 in Stara Pazova, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,025 in Stara Pazova, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 21% 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 Pazova22% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Stara Pazova
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$204
$8.82RSD 892
34.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$736
$34.65RSD 3,504
23.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$183
$5.81RSD 587
83.30%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.2
$1.97RSD 199
75.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.81
$1.89RSD 191
-20.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.28
$1.20RSD 121
-20.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$51.9
$2.34RSD 237
29.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.1
$2.74RSD 277
68.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Stara Pazova
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.61
$1.38RSD 140
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.70
$0.64RSD 64.9
189.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.65
$1.79RSD 181
-10.06%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.51
$2.65RSD 268
-2.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$142
$9.23RSD 933
-10.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$144
$6.63RSD 670
26.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$183
$11.00RSD 1,112
-3.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.12
$1.24RSD 126
112.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.53
$1.64RSD 166
-9.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.94
$1.68RSD 170
14.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.81
$1.71RSD 173
22.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$31.88
$1.00RSD 101
86.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.81
$1.01RSD 102
123.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.23
$0.71RSD 71.5
49.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.67
$0.68RSD 69.1
60.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.2
$4.04RSD 408
2.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$178
$5.27RSD 533
97.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.59
$0.85RSD 85.6
102.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$44.85
$1.08RSD 109
141.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Stara Pazova
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.30
$0.94RSD 94.6
-42.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$462
$35.15RSD 3,555
-23.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$53.7
$1.04RSD 105
200.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.09
$0.67RSD 68.2
274.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.1
$5.00RSD 505
-37.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$21.88
$1.71RSD 173
-25.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$521.3K
$30.6KRSD 3.1M
-0.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$404.5K
$26.2KRSD 2.6M
-9.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Stara Pazova
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,425
$145RSD 14.7K
-42.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$390
$13.57RSD 1,373
67.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$506
$23.98RSD 2,425
22.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Stara Pazova
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$875
$30.37RSD 3,071
67.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$315
$16.35RSD 1,653
12.11%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$84.5
$4.61RSD 466
6.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Stara Pazova
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,386
$181RSD 18.3K
8.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$90.6K
$3,991RSD 403.6K
32.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Stara Pazova
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$633
$53.5RSD 5,415
-31.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$685
$14.74RSD 1,490
170.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,373
$97.1RSD 9,824
-17.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,536
$119RSD 12.0K
-24.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Stara Pazova
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.4K
$373RSD 37.7K
156.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,189
$295RSD 29.8K
61.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.3K
$564RSD 57.0K
191.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.0K
$410RSD 41.5K
198.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.2K
$1,468RSD 148.4K
166.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$110.9K
$1,217RSD 123.1K
430.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Stara Pazova
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.4K
$656RSD 66.3K
1.73%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Stara Pazova: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $373 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 2% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $35.00 in Stara Pazova. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 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 21%, 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 $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,571 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 vs Stara Pazova?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,271 in Playa del Carmen and $1,047 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 30% less in Stara Pazova. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Stara Pazova?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Stara Pazova, where all-in costs run around $1,047, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. 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