😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,110 in Ajka.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,637 in Ajka.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,164 in Ajka.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 17% more expensive than Ajka, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen3% lower, Ajka17% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ajka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$7.68Ft 2,343
52.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$720
$23.05Ft 7,029
80.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$5.88Ft 1,793
80.95%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.9
$1.15Ft 350
206.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.12
$1.19Ft 362
26.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.84
$0.59Ft 181
64.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$1.26Ft 383
134.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$1.19Ft 362
273.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ajka
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.93
$1.12Ft 342
23.21%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.72
$1.64Ft 500
15.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.32
$2.53Ft 773
-35.18%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.34
$3.09Ft 943
-18.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$7.74Ft 2,361
7.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$5.80Ft 1,768
43.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$17.57Ft 5,359
-38.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.04
$1.88Ft 573
38.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.20
$1.78Ft 543
-17.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.87
$1.98Ft 603
-4.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.91
$2.90Ft 884
-28.28%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.71
$1.06Ft 322
67.92%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.80
$1.20Ft 365
82.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.99
$1.37Ft 418
-24.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.62
$0.48Ft 146
125.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.6
$7.56Ft 2,307
-46.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$5.22Ft 1,592
97.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.61
$0.94Ft 285
81.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.54
$1.49Ft 455
73.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ajka
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$1.13Ft 345
-54.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$458
$25.14Ft 7,668
5.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$2.76Ft 840
18.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.09
$1.33Ft 406
87.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.2
$17.04Ft 5,197
-80.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.61
$1.68Ft 513
-22.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.7K
$26.1KFt 7.9M
16.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$405.3K
$25.4KFt 7.7M
-7.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ajka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,433
$102Ft 31.2K
-19.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$25.21Ft 7,687
-11.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$18.54Ft 5,654
58.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ajka
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$893
$47.32Ft 14.4K
9.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
$16.71Ft 5,096
9.63%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.6
$8.51Ft 2,594
-40.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ajka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,473
$220Ft 67.0K
-8.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$6,224Ft 1.9M
-16.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ajka
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$639
$109Ft 33.1K
-65.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$30.08Ft 9,173
32.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,357
$87.3Ft 26.6K
-10.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,506
$108Ft 33.0K
-19.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ajka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$449Ft 136.9K
116.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,090
$341Ft 104.1K
36.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$637Ft 194.3K
157.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$538Ft 164.0K
127.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.3K
$3,337Ft 1.0M
18.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.4K
$2,550Ft 777.6K
154.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ajka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
-
-
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: June 2, 2026
Last update for Ajka: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $449 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 $232 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 Ajka?
Playa del Carmen and Ajka differ by about 17% in total monthly costs ($1,297 vs $1,110 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 $1,945 in Playa del Carmen and $1,665 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 Ajka?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $449 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 Ajka?
A monthly transit pass in Ajka runs roughly 5% 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 $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $220 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 $1,110 in Ajka versus $1,297 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 17% 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