😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,080 in Ajka.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,624 in Ajka.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,168 in Ajka.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 16% more expensive than in Ajka, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen6% lower, Ajka19% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ajka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$7.66Ft 2,426
56.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
$22.99Ft 7,285
81.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$5.80Ft 1,836
85.34%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$1.18Ft 375
196.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$1.13Ft 359
28.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
$0.61Ft 192
44.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
$1.25Ft 395
136.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
$1.18Ft 375
282.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ajka
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.11Ft 350
28.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$1.69Ft 537
8.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
$2.53Ft 803
-37.94%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$3.16Ft 1,000
-20.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$7.96Ft 2,521
4.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$5.78Ft 1,832
45.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$17.95Ft 5,686
-40.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
$1.85Ft 586
41.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
$1.84Ft 584
-21.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
$1.98Ft 629
-1.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
$2.80Ft 888
-25.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
$1.05Ft 334
76.19%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
$1.15Ft 364
88.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
$1.45Ft 458
-28.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$0.48Ft 151
122.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$7.54Ft 2,389
-45.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
$5.20Ft 1,646
95.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
$0.94Ft 296
78.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
$1.44Ft 456
75.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ajka
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
$1.16Ft 368
-56.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
$24.56Ft 7,782
6.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$2.74Ft 868
17.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
$1.33Ft 421
81.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
$17.18Ft 5,444
-81.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$1.67Ft 530
-20.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
$26.3KFt 8.3M
12.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$25.1KFt 8.0M
-5.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ajka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$106Ft 33.5K
-22.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
$25.46Ft 8,067
-9.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$18.55Ft 5,878
62.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ajka
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
$47.29Ft 15.0K
9.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
$16.52Ft 5,235
12.17%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$8.51Ft 2,697
-41.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ajka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
$225Ft 71.2K
-12.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
$6,430Ft 2.0M
-17.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ajka
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
$108Ft 34.3K
-67.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$29.88Ft 9,468
34.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
$85.7Ft 27.1K
-8.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
$109Ft 34.5K
-18.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ajka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
$437Ft 138.5K
116.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
$350Ft 110.9K
35.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
$634Ft 201.0K
159.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
$531Ft 168.1K
128.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
$3,093Ft 979.9K
31.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.7K
$2,434Ft 771.3K
165.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ajka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
5.85
95.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Last update for Ajka: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $947 in Playa del Carmen and $437 in Ajka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $23.00 in Ajka for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $235 per month, with Ajka cheaper across the board.
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
Playa del Carmen vs Ajka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and in Ajka?
Playa del Carmen and Ajka differ by about 16% in total monthly costs ($1,256 vs $1,080 including rent). Ajka is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Ajka?
You'd need roughly $1,884 in Playa del Carmen and $1,619 in Ajka to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Ajka?
Rent for a central apartment: $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $437 in Ajka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Ajka?
A monthly transit pass in Ajka 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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Ajka?
Childcare runs $197 in Playa del Carmen versus $225 in Ajka. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,080 in Ajka versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ajka but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Ajka the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Ajka?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Ajka?
Expats usually find Ajka gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared