Cost of Living Comparison Between Pecs and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Pecs and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,208 in Pecs versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,808 in Pecs versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,409 in Pecs versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Pecs costs roughly 6% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pecs 10% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pecs
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.39 Ft 2,608
$11.94 MX$208
-29.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.65 Ft 13.6K
$42.75 MX$744
2.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.66 Ft 2,692
$10.59 MX$184
-18.22%
Cappuccino
$2.18 Ft 676
$3.62 MX$63.0
-39.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 Ft 358
$1.47 MX$25.54
-21.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 Ft 287
$0.94 MX$16.41
-2.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.59 Ft 495
$3.09 MX$53.8
-48.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 Ft 663
$4.46 MX$77.6
-52.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pecs
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 Ft 330
$1.43 MX$24.80
-25.87%
White Bread (500g)
$1.54 Ft 479
$1.88 MX$32.79
-18.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 Ft 595
$1.63 MX$28.34
17.18%
Eggs
$2.46 Ft 766
$2.64 MX$45.99
-6.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.12 Ft 2,834
$8.21 MX$143
11.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.87 Ft 1,825
$8.29 MX$144
-29.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.15 Ft 4,398
$11.10 MX$193
27.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.00 Ft 623
$2.65 MX$46.14
-24.53%
Banana (1kg)
$2.10 Ft 653
$1.50 MX$26.11
40.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 Ft 688
$1.99 MX$34.59
11.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.64 Ft 1,133
$2.08 MX$36.13
75.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.26 Ft 393
$1.79 MX$31.11
-29.61%
Onion (1kg)
$1.29 Ft 400
$2.18 MX$37.87
-40.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.80 Ft 558
$1.08 MX$18.73
66.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 Ft 165
$1.04 MX$18.04
-49.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.08 Ft 2,201
$3.97 MX$69.1
78.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.74 Ft 1,475
$10.20 MX$178
-53.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 Ft 374
$1.73 MX$30.04
-30.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 Ft 651
$2.50 MX$43.46
-16.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Pecs
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.42 Ft 440
$0.52 MX$9.02
173.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.05 Ft 7,475
$26.97 MX$469
-10.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 Ft 958
$3.14 MX$54.7
-1.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.12 Ft 348
$2.40 MX$41.80
-53.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.05 Ft 7,166
$3.09 MX$53.7
645.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.78 Ft 552
$1.27 MX$22.16
40.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K Ft 8.6M
$30.9K MX$537.3K
-10.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1K Ft 9.7M
$23.3K MX$405.7K
33.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pecs
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$162 Ft 50.3K
$82.0 MX$1,427
97.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.96 Ft 8,380
$22.45 MX$391
20.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.86 Ft 6,174
$29.66 MX$516
-33.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pecs
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.04 Ft 13.7K
$51.9 MX$903
-15.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.55 Ft 6,699
$18.67 MX$325
15.43%
Cinema Ticket
$7.75 Ft 2,408
$4.97 MX$86.5
55.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pecs
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$398 Ft 123.7K
$198 MX$3,442
101.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,079 Ft 2.2M
$5,273 MX$91.7K
34.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pecs
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.4 Ft 28.4K
$36.34 MX$632
151.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.02 Ft 13.7K
$40.05 MX$697
9.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 Ft 29.2K
$79.9 MX$1,390
17.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 Ft 31.9K
$88.9 MX$1,547
15.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pecs
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$508 Ft 157.8K
$963 MX$16.8K
-47.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$369 Ft 114.8K
$465 MX$8,086
-20.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$697 Ft 216.8K
$1,596 MX$27.8K
-56.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$559 Ft 173.6K
$1,209 MX$21.0K
-53.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,500 Ft 1.1M
$3,942 MX$68.6K
-11.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,978 Ft 925.8K
$6,448 MX$112.2K
-53.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pecs
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,141 Ft 354.6K
$720 MX$12.5K
58.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8
11.42
-29.95%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Pecs: April 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $508 in Pecs and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pecs pays 58% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $44.00 in Pecs vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $232 vs $251, with Pecs cheaper for home cooking.

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
Pecs vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Pecs?
Pecs is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Pecs or Playa del Carmen?
Pecs pays 58% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Pecs and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $508 in Pecs versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Pecs runs roughly 12% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $398 in Pecs versus $198 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Pecs or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,208 in Pecs versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Pecs but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Pecs the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Pecs or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Pecs is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Pecs or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Pecs and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Pecs gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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