🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,195 in Pecs versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,782 in Pecs versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,369 in Pecs versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Pecs costs roughly 5% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Pecs10% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pecs
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.43Ft 2,669
$11.72MX$204
-28.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.85Ft 13.6K
$41.89MX$731
2.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.42Ft 2,664
$10.51MX$183
-19.89%
Cappuccino
$2.21Ft 700
$3.59MX$62.5
-38.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13Ft 359
$1.51MX$26.31
-25.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91Ft 287
$0.92MX$15.96
-1.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.54Ft 488
$2.96MX$51.6
-47.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22Ft 704
$4.41MX$76.9
-49.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pecs
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10Ft 347
$1.40MX$24.35
-21.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57Ft 496
$1.88MX$32.87
-16.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90Ft 600
$1.56MX$27.19
21.79%
Eggs
$2.55Ft 806
$2.61MX$45.50
-2.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20Ft 2,912
$8.32MX$145
10.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.91Ft 1,870
$8.35MX$146
-29.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.48Ft 4,580
$10.86MX$189
33.33%
Apples(1kg)
$2.02Ft 639
$2.71MX$47.31
-25.46%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01Ft 636
$1.51MX$26.25
33.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.10Ft 666
$1.87MX$32.67
12.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.53Ft 1,116
$2.19MX$38.19
61.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23Ft 388
$1.86MX$32.40
-33.87%
Onion(1kg)
$1.23Ft 389
$2.23MX$38.90
-44.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.79Ft 566
$1.07MX$18.63
67.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54Ft 172
$1.09MX$18.94
-50.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.25Ft 2,295
$4.19MX$73.0
73.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.72Ft 1,492
$10.43MX$182
-54.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22Ft 387
$1.66MX$28.91
-26.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03Ft 641
$2.61MX$45.56
-22.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Pecs
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.47Ft 465
$0.54MX$9.45
172.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.74Ft 7,826
$26.16MX$456
-5.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.15Ft 997
$3.08MX$53.7
2.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.11Ft 352
$2.40MX$41.94
-53.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.59Ft 7,147
$3.13MX$54.5
621.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.70Ft 539
$1.31MX$22.87
29.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9KFt 8.5M
$29.8KMX$519.9K
-9.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6KFt 10.0M
$23.3KMX$406.8K
35.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pecs
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$163Ft 51.4K
$81.3MX$1,418
99.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.71Ft 8,769
$22.56MX$393
22.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.50Ft 6,171
$30.05MX$524
-35.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pecs
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.25Ft 14.0K
$52.9MX$923
-16.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.90Ft 6,929
$18.39MX$321
19.09%
Cinema Ticket
$7.98Ft 2,525
$4.92MX$85.8
62.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pecs
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$402Ft 127.1K
$201MX$3,502
100.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,197Ft 2.3M
$5,175MX$90.2K
39.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pecs
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.0Ft 29.4K
$35.92MX$627
158.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.52Ft 13.8K
$40.13MX$700
8.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.2Ft 29.8K
$79.7MX$1,390
18.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102Ft 32.3K
$86.5MX$1,508
18.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pecs
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$489Ft 154.8K
$978MX$17.1K
-49.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368Ft 116.4K
$470MX$8,206
-21.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$674Ft 213.4K
$1,651MX$28.8K
-59.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$561Ft 177.6K
$1,203MX$21.0K
-53.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,479Ft 1.1M
$3,953MX$69.0K
-11.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,891Ft 914.7K
$6,607MX$115.2K
-56.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pecs
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,108Ft 350.4K
$677MX$11.8K
63.70%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $489 in Pecs and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Pecs pays 64% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Pecs vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $233 vs $252, 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 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Pecs or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 64% higher in Pecs, 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: $489 in Pecs versus $978 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 6% 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 $402 in Pecs versus $201 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 living in Pecs or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,195 in Pecs versus $1,260 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 5% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.