😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,245 in Ajka.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,847 in Ajka.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,362 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,449 in Ajka.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 5% more expensive than in Ajka, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen5% lower, Ajka10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ajka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96MX$203
$10.20Ft 3,194
17.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.38MX$804
$23.18Ft 7,261
104.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.75MX$199
$8.31Ft 2,603
41.40%
Cappuccino
$4.12MX$70.0
$1.14Ft 356
261.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.74
$1.18Ft 369
18.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.48
$0.56Ft 176
62.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21MX$54.4
$1.30Ft 407
146.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07MX$120
$1.14Ft 358
520.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ajka
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.44
$1.28Ft 401
31.25%
White Bread(500g)
$2.15MX$36.48
$1.49Ft 468
44.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$30.10
$2.62Ft 820
-32.44%
Eggs
$2.82MX$47.76
$3.97Ft 1,245
-28.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20MX$156
$10.13Ft 3,175
-9.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.23MX$157
$6.83Ft 2,140
35.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.64MX$214
$16.31Ft 5,110
-22.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$50.1
$2.33Ft 729
26.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58MX$26.79
$2.31Ft 724
-31.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22MX$37.70
$2.04Ft 640
8.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.09
$3.46Ft 1,083
-31.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.81
$1.05Ft 330
89.52%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98MX$33.58
$1.13Ft 355
75.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$21.04
$1.58Ft 495
-21.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21MX$20.55
$0.54Ft 170
124.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60MX$78.1
$7.93Ft 2,484
-41.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.52MX$178
$5.05Ft 1,581
108.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69MX$28.70
$1.35Ft 422
25.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77MX$47.06
$2.10Ft 658
31.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ajka
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.22
$1.24Ft 388
-51.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.70MX$504
$27.95Ft 8,755
6.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.24MX$88.8
$3.20Ft 1,003
63.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.65MX$61.9
$1.77Ft 555
106.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$98.1
$18.87Ft 5,913
-69.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.09
$1.95Ft 609
-21.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$386.8K
$29.1KFt 9.1M
-21.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KMX$437.9K
$38.5KFt 12.1M
-32.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ajka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$90.7MX$1,538
$133Ft 41.7K
-31.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19MX$427
$22.73Ft 7,119
10.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75MX$539
$21.07Ft 6,601
50.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ajka
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,167
$48.43Ft 15.2K
42.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37MX$498
$18.73Ft 5,866
56.81%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$82.5
$8.79Ft 2,752
-44.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ajka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$226MX$3,828
$254Ft 79.7K
-11.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,194MX$71.1K
$7,035Ft 2.2M
-40.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ajka
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38MX$804
$107Ft 33.5K
-55.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45MX$737
$33.59Ft 10.5K
29.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.2MX$1,361
$94.1Ft 29.5K
-14.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4MX$1,550
$130Ft 40.6K
-29.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ajka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,086MX$18.4K
$547Ft 171.4K
98.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$409MX$6,933
$422Ft 132.1K
-3.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,972MX$33.5K
$757Ft 237.0K
160.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,281MX$21.7K
$656Ft 205.6K
95.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,046MX$68.6K
$3,059Ft 958.2K
32.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,704MX$113.7K
$2,671Ft 836.8K
150.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ajka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$773MX$13.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
6.67
71.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Last update for Ajka: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen and $547 in Ajka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $23.00 in Ajka for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $278 vs $258 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 5% in total monthly costs ($1,305 vs $1,245 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 $1,958 in Playa del Carmen and $1,867 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: $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $547 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 $226 in Playa del Carmen versus $254 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 $1,245 in Ajka versus $1,305 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 5% 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