🙂A single person spends $1,226 per month in Debrecen vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,864 per month in Debrecen vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,501 per month in Debrecen vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Debrecen is about 3% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Debrecen and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Debrecen8% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.45Ft 3,308
$11.72MX$204
-10.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.56Ft 14.7K
$41.89MX$731
11.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.28Ft 2,937
$10.51MX$183
-11.70%
Cappuccino
$1.68Ft 532
$3.59MX$62.5
-53.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10Ft 348
$1.51MX$26.31
-27.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75Ft 236
$0.92MX$15.96
-18.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.13Ft 359
$2.96MX$51.6
-61.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96Ft 621
$4.41MX$76.9
-55.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05Ft 332
$1.40MX$24.35
-25.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62Ft 513
$1.88MX$32.87
-13.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98Ft 627
$1.56MX$27.19
26.92%
Eggs
$2.73Ft 862
$2.61MX$45.50
4.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.57Ft 2,396
$8.32MX$145
-9.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.51Ft 1,744
$8.35MX$146
-34.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.33Ft 3,268
$10.86MX$189
-4.88%
Apples(1kg)
$1.30Ft 411
$2.71MX$47.31
-52.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79Ft 566
$1.51MX$26.25
18.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13Ft 675
$1.87MX$32.67
13.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.52Ft 798
$2.19MX$38.19
15.07%
Potato(1kg)
$0.78Ft 247
$1.86MX$32.40
-58.06%
Onion(1kg)
$1.05Ft 333
$2.23MX$38.90
-52.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.02Ft 638
$1.07MX$18.63
88.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54Ft 171
$1.09MX$18.94
-50.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.68Ft 2,114
$4.19MX$73.0
59.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.39Ft 1,389
$10.43MX$182
-57.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11Ft 352
$1.66MX$28.91
-33.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18Ft 374
$2.61MX$45.56
-54.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36Ft 432
$0.54MX$9.45
151.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.30Ft 7,689
$26.16MX$456
-7.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.99Ft 945
$3.08MX$53.7
-2.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14Ft 360
$2.40MX$41.94
-52.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.65Ft 3,687
$3.13MX$54.5
272.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75Ft 553
$1.31MX$22.87
33.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3KFt 6.7M
$29.8KMX$519.9K
-28.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3KFt 8.0M
$23.3KMX$406.8K
8.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$140Ft 44.3K
$81.3MX$1,418
72.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.54Ft 8,712
$22.56MX$393
22.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.50Ft 5,537
$30.05MX$524
-41.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.80Ft 13.9K
$52.9MX$923
-17.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.44Ft 2,353
$18.39MX$321
-59.54%
Cinema Ticket
$8.40Ft 2,657
$4.92MX$85.8
70.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264Ft 83.4K
$201MX$3,502
31.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KFt 3.4M
$5,175MX$90.2K
107.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.5Ft 21.4K
$35.92MX$627
87.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.61Ft 7,469
$40.13MX$700
-41.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.5Ft 24.2K
$79.7MX$1,390
-4.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.8Ft 29.0K
$86.5MX$1,508
6.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$547Ft 173.1K
$978MX$17.1K
-44.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$466Ft 147.6K
$470MX$8,206
-0.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,008Ft 318.8K
$1,651MX$28.8K
-38.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$849Ft 268.8K
$1,203MX$21.0K
-29.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,983Ft 943.6K
$3,953MX$69.0K
-24.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,541Ft 803.8K
$6,607MX$115.2K
-61.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,293Ft 409.2K
$677MX$11.8K
91.15%
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: July 25, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $547 in Debrecen versus $978 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 91% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $201 in Debrecen vs $252 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 3% 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,839 per month in Debrecen and $1,890 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 compared to Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 8% less in Debrecen. 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 $264 per month in Debrecen and $201 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 in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Debrecen, where all-in costs run around $1,226, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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 $1,226 versus $1,260 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 to 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.