🙂A single person spends $1,219 per month in Debrecen vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,885 per month in Debrecen vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,552 per month in Debrecen vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Debrecen is about 4% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Debrecen and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Debrecen9% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.42Ft 3,151
$11.87MX$204
-12.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.66Ft 14.1K
$42.90MX$736
8.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29Ft 2,810
$10.65MX$183
-12.77%
Cappuccino
$1.69Ft 510
$3.45MX$59.2
-51.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16Ft 352
$1.50MX$25.81
-22.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81Ft 247
$0.95MX$16.28
-14.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.18Ft 356
$3.03MX$51.9
-61.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04Ft 618
$4.61MX$79.1
-55.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08Ft 325
$1.38MX$23.61
-21.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.55Ft 469
$1.85MX$31.70
-16.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.10Ft 635
$1.61MX$27.65
30.43%
Eggs
$2.73Ft 825
$2.59MX$44.51
5.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.61Ft 2,303
$8.26MX$142
-7.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.42Ft 1,639
$8.37MX$144
-35.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.51Ft 3,181
$10.66MX$183
-1.41%
Apples(1kg)
$1.25Ft 377
$2.63MX$45.12
-52.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75Ft 529
$1.49MX$25.53
17.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.03Ft 616
$1.92MX$32.94
5.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.64Ft 798
$2.09MX$35.81
26.32%
Potato(1kg)
$0.79Ft 238
$1.86MX$31.88
-57.53%
Onion(1kg)
$1.01Ft 306
$2.26MX$38.81
-55.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.01Ft 609
$1.06MX$18.23
89.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53Ft 162
$1.09MX$18.67
-51.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.68Ft 2,020
$4.15MX$71.2
60.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.77Ft 1,443
$10.39MX$178
-54.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11Ft 335
$1.72MX$29.59
-35.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15Ft 349
$2.61MX$44.85
-55.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.34Ft 407
$0.54MX$9.30
148.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.29Ft 7,348
$26.94MX$462
-9.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.07Ft 929
$3.13MX$53.7
-1.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.19Ft 359
$2.51MX$43.09
-52.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.65Ft 3,523
$3.15MX$54.1
269.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.66Ft 503
$1.27MX$21.88
30.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7KFt 6.6M
$30.4KMX$521.3K
-28.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5KFt 7.7M
$23.6KMX$404.5K
8.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$138Ft 41.8K
$83.0MX$1,425
66.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.05Ft 8,184
$22.71MX$390
19.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.44Ft 5,277
$29.46MX$506
-40.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.25Ft 13.7K
$51.0MX$875
-11.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.77Ft 2,350
$18.33MX$315
-57.61%
Cinema Ticket
$8.65Ft 2,616
$4.93MX$84.5
75.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$257Ft 77.6K
$197MX$3,386
30.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KFt 3.2M
$5,280MX$90.6K
102.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.9Ft 19.9K
$36.90MX$633
78.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.59Ft 7,138
$39.89MX$685
-40.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.8Ft 23.5K
$80.0MX$1,373
-2.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.1Ft 27.2K
$89.5MX$1,536
0.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$548Ft 165.7K
$956MX$16.4K
-42.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$464Ft 140.5K
$477MX$8,189
-2.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,004Ft 303.8K
$1,646MX$28.3K
-38.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$848Ft 256.7K
$1,225MX$21.0K
-30.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,123Ft 944.9K
$3,918MX$67.2K
-20.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,642Ft 799.2K
$6,459MX$110.9K
-59.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,284Ft 388.4K
$667MX$11.4K
92.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.29
11.42
-36.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Debrecen: June 8, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $548 in Debrecen versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. 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 92% higher in Debrecen, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Debrecen versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $201 in Debrecen vs $250 in Playa del Carmen – so Debrecen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Debrecen vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Debrecen or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen costs about 4% more than Debrecen, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Debrecen vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,828 per month in Debrecen and $1,906 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Debrecen or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Debrecen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Debrecen vs Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 11% less in Debrecen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Debrecen and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $257 per month in Debrecen and $197 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Debrecen or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Debrecen, where all-in costs run around $1,219, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Debrecen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Debrecen or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Debrecen costs $1,219 versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Debrecen compared to Playa del Carmen?
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.
Should I move to Debrecen or Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Debrecen. 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.