🙂A single person spends $1,209 per month in Debrecen vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,854 per month in Debrecen vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,500 per month in Debrecen vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Debrecen is about 6% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Debrecen and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Debrecen10% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.58Ft 3,290
$11.94MX$208
-11.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.69Ft 14.2K
$42.75MX$744
6.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.28Ft 2,886
$10.59MX$184
-12.37%
Cappuccino
$1.71Ft 530
$3.62MX$63.0
-52.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16Ft 362
$1.47MX$25.54
-21.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76Ft 236
$0.94MX$16.41
-19.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.12Ft 348
$3.09MX$53.8
-63.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05Ft 637
$4.46MX$77.6
-54.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08Ft 335
$1.43MX$24.80
-24.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62Ft 502
$1.88MX$32.79
-13.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07Ft 643
$1.63MX$28.34
26.99%
Eggs
$2.68Ft 832
$2.64MX$45.99
1.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.26Ft 2,257
$8.21MX$143
-11.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63Ft 1,750
$8.29MX$144
-32.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.20Ft 3,171
$11.10MX$193
-8.11%
Apples(1kg)
$1.30Ft 405
$2.65MX$46.14
-50.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73Ft 536
$1.50MX$26.11
15.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.06Ft 640
$1.99MX$34.59
3.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.65Ft 825
$2.08MX$36.13
27.40%
Potato(1kg)
$0.80Ft 247
$1.79MX$31.11
-55.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.03Ft 319
$2.18MX$37.87
-52.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98Ft 617
$1.08MX$18.73
83.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51Ft 157
$1.04MX$18.04
-50.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.75Ft 2,099
$3.97MX$69.1
70.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.69Ft 1,458
$10.20MX$178
-54.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10Ft 342
$1.73MX$30.04
-36.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19Ft 371
$2.50MX$43.46
-52.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40Ft 435
$0.52MX$9.02
169.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.83Ft 7,719
$26.97MX$469
-7.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.95Ft 918
$3.14MX$54.7
-6.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.16Ft 360
$2.40MX$41.80
-51.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.71Ft 3,639
$3.09MX$53.7
278.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.68Ft 522
$1.27MX$22.16
32.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4KFt 6.6M
$30.9KMX$537.3K
-30.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8KFt 7.7M
$23.3KMX$405.7K
6.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$138Ft 43.0K
$82.0MX$1,427
68.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.83Ft 8,650
$22.45MX$391
23.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.24Ft 5,360
$29.66MX$516
-41.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.06Ft 14.0K
$51.9MX$903
-13.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.41Ft 2,302
$18.67MX$325
-60.31%
Cinema Ticket
$8.56Ft 2,662
$4.97MX$86.5
72.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$262Ft 81.4K
$198MX$3,442
32.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.0KFt 3.4M
$5,273MX$91.7K
108.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.1Ft 20.8K
$36.34MX$632
84.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.10Ft 7,491
$40.05MX$697
-39.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.4Ft 24.4K
$79.9MX$1,390
-1.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.8Ft 28.8K
$88.9MX$1,547
4.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$558Ft 173.4K
$963MX$16.8K
-42.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$466Ft 144.8K
$465MX$8,086
0.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977Ft 303.7K
$1,596MX$27.8K
-38.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$848Ft 263.7K
$1,209MX$21.0K
-29.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,050Ft 948.1K
$3,942MX$68.6K
-22.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,574Ft 800.0K
$6,448MX$112.2K
-60.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Debrecen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,257Ft 390.9K
$720MX$12.5K
74.55%
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $558 in Debrecen versus $963 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 75% 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 $46.00 in Debrecen versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $201 in Debrecen vs $251 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 6% 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 $1,813 per month in Debrecen and $1,930 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 9% 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 $262 per month in Debrecen and $198 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 $1,209, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. 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 $1,209 versus $1,287 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.