😐A single person spends $2,130 per month in Graz vs $1,294 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,170 per month in Graz vs $2,189 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,209 per month in Graz vs $3,084 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Graz costs about 65% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Graz sits 60% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Graz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.06€13.83
$11.73MX$202
36.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.1€70.7
$41.78MX$719
96.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.79€10.15
$10.41MX$179
13.26%
Cappuccino
$4.51€3.88
$3.61MX$62.1
24.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.47
$1.46MX$25.06
176.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.42
$0.97MX$16.70
189.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.86€5.05
$2.92MX$50.3
100.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.01€4.32
$4.62MX$79.5
8.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Graz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67€1.44
$1.43MX$24.59
16.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.99€1.72
$1.90MX$32.70
4.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.17€2.73
$1.57MX$26.95
101.91%
Eggs
$5.02€4.32
$2.64MX$45.34
90.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.97€15.47
$8.44MX$145
112.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.65€11.75
$8.58MX$148
59.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.43€18.46
$11.00MX$189
94.82%
Apples(1kg)
$2.81€2.42
$2.70MX$46.51
4.07%
Banana(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.51MX$25.92
62.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.87€2.47
$1.91MX$32.93
50.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.86€3.32
$2.17MX$37.37
77.88%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08€1.79
$1.87MX$32.25
11.23%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09€1.80
$2.23MX$38.43
-6.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.89€1.62
$1.08MX$18.60
75.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00€0.86
$1.07MX$18.47
-6.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.60€6.54
$4.16MX$71.6
82.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.83€7.60
$10.29MX$177
-14.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.36
$1.68MX$28.95
-5.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.77
$2.53MX$43.59
-18.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Graz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.41€2.94
$0.55MX$9.53
520.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.4€63.2
$26.29MX$452
179.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.67€4.89
$3.20MX$55.0
77.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95€1.68
$2.46MX$42.37
-20.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.85€30.01
$3.20MX$55.0
989.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.49
$1.32MX$22.72
31.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K€24.8K
$30.2KMX$518.8K
-4.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K€28.4K
$23.4KMX$402.5K
41.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Graz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$369€318
$81.4MX$1,400
353.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.82€17.07
$22.41MX$386
-11.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.17€31.15
$29.97MX$516
20.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Graz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.7€46.21
$51.6MX$887
4.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.58€22.89
$18.39MX$316
44.54%
Cinema Ticket
$13.63€11.74
$5.16MX$88.9
164.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Graz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$408€351
$202MX$3,471
102.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,260€6,251
$5,311MX$91.4K
36.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Graz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.2€84.6
$35.61MX$613
175.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.14€33.70
$40.37MX$695
-3.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100€86.2
$78.6MX$1,353
27.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$149€129
$86.9MX$1,495
71.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Graz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$824€710
$950MX$16.3K
-13.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$699€602
$478MX$8,227
46.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,301€1,120
$1,621MX$27.9K
-19.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,140€981
$1,223MX$21.0K
-6.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,051€5,210
$4,009MX$69.0K
50.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,337€2,873
$6,473MX$111.4K
-48.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Graz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,252€2,801
$673MX$11.6K
383.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.91
11.42
-65.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Graz: June 15, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $824 in Graz versus $950 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 383% higher in Graz, 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 $82.0 in Graz versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $375 vs $254 – making Playa del Carmen 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
Graz vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Graz?
Yes – Graz is pricier by about 65%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $3,195 per month in Graz and $1,941 in Playa del Carmen. 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 Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Graz and Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 48% more in Graz, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Graz or Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $82.0 in Graz and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Graz or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,294, than in Graz at $2,130. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Graz it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Graz or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Graz or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Graz makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.