😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,436 in Pecs versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,144 in Pecs versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,853 in Pecs versus $3,362 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Pecs is roughly 10% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Pecs is 4% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pecs
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.59Ft 3,945
$11.96MX$203
5.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.9Ft 18.4K
$47.38MX$804
24.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.44Ft 2,956
$11.75MX$199
-19.66%
Cappuccino
$2.56Ft 801
$4.12MX$70.0
-37.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41Ft 441
$1.40MX$23.74
0.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34Ft 420
$0.91MX$15.48
47.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.86Ft 582
$3.21MX$54.4
-42.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51Ft 786
$7.07MX$120
-64.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pecs
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28Ft 401
$1.68MX$28.44
-23.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.69Ft 530
$2.15MX$36.48
-21.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.57Ft 806
$1.77MX$30.10
45.20%
Eggs
$3.37Ft 1,056
$2.82MX$47.76
19.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.87Ft 3,404
$9.20MX$156
18.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.91Ft 2,165
$9.23MX$157
-25.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.30Ft 5,419
$12.64MX$214
36.87%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61Ft 818
$2.95MX$50.1
-11.53%
Banana(1kg)
$2.39Ft 750
$1.58MX$26.79
51.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.74Ft 859
$2.22MX$37.70
23.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.06Ft 1,271
$2.36MX$40.09
72.03%
Potato(1kg)
$1.18Ft 369
$1.99MX$33.81
-40.70%
Onion(1kg)
$1.42Ft 445
$1.98MX$33.58
-28.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.94Ft 607
$1.24MX$21.04
56.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57Ft 178
$1.21MX$20.55
-52.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.72Ft 2,732
$4.60MX$78.1
89.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.94Ft 1,548
$10.52MX$178
-53.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42Ft 444
$1.69MX$28.70
-15.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66Ft 832
$2.77MX$47.06
-3.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Pecs
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.58Ft 495
$0.60MX$10.22
163.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.97Ft 7,821
$29.70MX$504
-15.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.54Ft 1,108
$5.24MX$88.8
-32.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.55Ft 487
$3.65MX$61.9
-57.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.20Ft 7,893
$5.78MX$98.1
335.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.87Ft 585
$1.54MX$26.09
21.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.5KFt 9.9M
$22.8KMX$386.8K
38.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1KFt 12.3M
$25.8KMX$437.9K
51.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pecs
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$179Ft 56.1K
$90.7MX$1,538
97.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.40Ft 6,705
$25.19MX$427
-15.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.62Ft 6,773
$31.75MX$539
-31.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pecs
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.57Ft 15.5K
$68.8MX$1,167
-27.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.84Ft 5,901
$29.37MX$498
-35.85%
Cinema Ticket
$9.05Ft 2,836
$4.86MX$82.5
86.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pecs
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$455Ft 142.5K
$226MX$3,828
101.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,932Ft 2.5M
$4,194MX$71.1K
89.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pecs
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104Ft 32.6K
$47.38MX$804
119.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.5Ft 16.8K
$43.45MX$737
23.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100Ft 31.4K
$80.2MX$1,361
25.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114Ft 35.7K
$91.4MX$1,550
24.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pecs
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$651Ft 204.0K
$1,086MX$18.4K
-40.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$458Ft 143.4K
$409MX$6,933
12.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,023Ft 320.6K
$1,972MX$33.5K
-48.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$728Ft 228.0K
$1,281MX$21.7K
-43.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,495Ft 1.1M
$4,046MX$68.6K
-13.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,990Ft 936.6K
$6,704MX$113.7K
-55.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pecs
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,122Ft 351.4K
$773MX$13.1K
45.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8
11.45
-30.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pecs: September 5, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $651 in Pecs and $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Pecs pays 45% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $59.0 in Pecs vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $274 vs $278, 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?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear. The 10% 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 45% 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: $651 in Pecs versus $1,086 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 Playa del Carmen runs roughly 19% less than in Pecs. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $455 in Pecs versus $226 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 $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,436 in Pecs, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Pecs. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Pecs or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Pecs, 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 Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Pecs. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.