😐A single person spends $1,405 per month in Debrecen vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,205 per month in Debrecen vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,006 per month in Debrecen vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Debrecen costs about 8% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Debrecen sits 2% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.67Ft 4,597
$11.96MX$203
22.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.5Ft 15.8K
$47.38MX$804
6.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.11Ft 3,167
$11.75MX$199
-13.96%
Cappuccino
$2.45Ft 768
$4.12MX$70.0
-40.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61Ft 505
$1.40MX$23.74
15.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10Ft 345
$0.91MX$15.48
20.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.97Ft 618
$3.21MX$54.4
-38.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46Ft 772
$7.07MX$120
-65.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.31Ft 409
$1.68MX$28.44
-22.02%
White Bread(500g)
$1.60Ft 502
$2.15MX$36.48
-25.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.52Ft 789
$1.77MX$30.10
42.37%
Eggs
$3.82Ft 1,197
$2.82MX$47.76
35.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.73Ft 3,362
$9.20MX$156
16.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.22Ft 2,260
$9.23MX$157
-21.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.91Ft 4,985
$12.64MX$214
25.87%
Apples(1kg)
$2.05Ft 641
$2.95MX$50.1
-30.51%
Banana(1kg)
$2.26Ft 708
$1.58MX$26.79
43.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19Ft 685
$2.22MX$37.70
-1.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.59Ft 1,125
$2.36MX$40.09
52.12%
Potato(1kg)
$0.96Ft 302
$1.99MX$33.81
-51.76%
Onion(1kg)
$1.31Ft 411
$1.98MX$33.58
-33.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.67Ft 523
$1.24MX$21.04
34.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54Ft 170
$1.21MX$20.55
-55.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.33Ft 2,295
$4.60MX$78.1
59.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.22Ft 1,323
$10.52MX$178
-59.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28Ft 402
$1.69MX$28.70
-24.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28Ft 713
$2.77MX$47.06
-17.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.54Ft 482
$0.60MX$10.22
156.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.38Ft 8,578
$29.70MX$504
-7.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.44Ft 1,077
$5.24MX$88.8
-34.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48Ft 463
$3.65MX$61.9
-59.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.01Ft 4,075
$5.78MX$98.1
125.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.94Ft 609
$1.54MX$26.09
25.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9KFt 10.6M
$22.8KMX$386.8K
48.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.2KFt 12.0M
$25.8KMX$437.9K
47.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$166Ft 51.9K
$90.7MX$1,538
82.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.37Ft 8,573
$25.19MX$427
8.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.28Ft 6,978
$31.75MX$539
-29.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.4Ft 16.1K
$68.8MX$1,167
-25.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.40Ft 2,631
$29.37MX$498
-71.40%
Cinema Ticket
$10.08Ft 3,157
$4.86MX$82.5
107.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$425Ft 133.1K
$226MX$3,828
88.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.0KFt 3.5M
$4,194MX$71.1K
163.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.0Ft 28.5K
$47.38MX$804
91.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.06Ft 11.0K
$43.45MX$737
-19.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.2Ft 27.6K
$80.2MX$1,361
9.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106Ft 33.2K
$91.4MX$1,550
16.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$652Ft 204.2K
$1,086MX$18.4K
-39.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$492Ft 154.2K
$409MX$6,933
20.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,225Ft 383.6K
$1,972MX$33.5K
-37.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$960Ft 300.7K
$1,281MX$21.7K
-25.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,106Ft 972.9K
$4,046MX$68.6K
-23.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,698Ft 845.1K
$6,704MX$113.7K
-59.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,284Ft 402.1K
$773MX$13.1K
65.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.9
11.45
-39.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Debrecen: September 7, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $652 in Debrecen versus $1,086 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 66% higher in Debrecen, 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 $50.0 in Debrecen versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $259 in Debrecen vs $278 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?
Debrecen costs about 8% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,107 per month in Debrecen and $1,958 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 Playa del Carmen, 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 compared to Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 8% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Debrecen and in Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $425 per month in Debrecen and $226 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 $1,500/month in Debrecen or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,305, than in Debrecen at $1,405. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Debrecen 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. Playa del Carmen costs $1,305 versus $1,405 in Debrecen. 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 to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Debrecen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.