😐A single person spends $1,293 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,163 in Békéscsaba, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,704 in Békéscsaba, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,374 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,245 in Békéscsaba, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 11% more than Békéscsaba, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Békéscsaba are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen6% lower, Békéscsaba15% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Békéscsaba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71MX$198
$9.81Ft 3,056
19.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.59MX$787
$45.43Ft 14.2K
2.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65MX$197
$5.85Ft 1,824
99.15%
Cappuccino
$4.09MX$69.1
$2.21Ft 689
85.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37MX$23.21
$1.45Ft 453
-5.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83MX$14.08
$0.94Ft 292
-11.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.35MX$56.6
$1.10Ft 342
204.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91MX$117
$1.28Ft 400
439.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Békéscsaba
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73MX$29.16
$1.24Ft 387
39.52%
White Bread(500g)
$2.26MX$38.17
$1.58Ft 491
43.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$29.88
$2.24Ft 699
-20.98%
Eggs
$2.73MX$46.14
$3.44Ft 1,073
-20.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.18MX$155
$10.11Ft 3,151
-9.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.92MX$151
$7.02Ft 2,188
27.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.60MX$213
$15.02Ft 4,681
-16.11%
Apples(1kg)
$3.02MX$51.0
$2.08Ft 648
45.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57MX$26.52
$2.26Ft 705
-30.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13MX$35.89
$1.63Ft 509
30.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.23
$2.88Ft 899
-21.53%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00MX$33.84
$1.03Ft 320
94.17%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06MX$34.86
$0.98Ft 306
110.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18MX$19.92
$1.08Ft 336
9.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.33
$0.54Ft 168
122.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.63MX$78.3
$8.45Ft 2,634
-45.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.69MX$180
$3.16Ft 984
238.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.35
$1.03Ft 321
57.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$48.65
$2.13Ft 663
35.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Békéscsaba
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.57MX$9.68
$1.28Ft 400
-55.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.83MX$504
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$92.0
$2.84Ft 886
91.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.70MX$62.6
$1.39Ft 432
166.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.98MX$101
$6.48Ft 2,020
-7.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.23
$1.94Ft 603
-20.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3KMX$377.0K
$31.4KFt 9.8M
-28.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KMX$438.2K
$35.9KFt 11.2M
-27.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Békéscsaba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.1MX$1,505
$173Ft 54.1K
-48.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04MX$423
$26.21Ft 8,169
-4.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.50MX$532
$22.64Ft 7,057
39.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Békéscsaba
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.8MX$1,145
$35.28Ft 11.0K
92.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.92MX$488
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.05MX$85.3
$9.83Ft 3,063
-48.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Békéscsaba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$225MX$3,798
$558Ft 174.0K
-59.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,222MX$71.3K
$17.1KFt 5.3M
-75.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Békéscsaba
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44MX$801
$110Ft 34.3K
-56.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98MX$759
$31.77Ft 9,902
41.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.0MX$1,384
$63.6Ft 19.8K
28.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1MX$1,555
$121Ft 37.6K
-23.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Békéscsaba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,069MX$18.1K
$432Ft 134.6K
147.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$405MX$6,844
$353Ft 110.2K
14.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,935MX$32.7K
$574Ft 178.8K
237.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,301MX$22.0K
$447Ft 139.4K
190.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,995MX$67.5K
$1,591Ft 495.9K
151.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,626MX$111.9K
$1,221Ft 380.7K
442.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Békéscsaba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$749MX$12.6K
$1,430Ft 445.7K
-47.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
6.68
71.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Last update for Békéscsaba: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $432 in Békéscsaba. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 91% higher in Békéscsaba, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $45.00 in Békéscsaba. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $238 – making Békéscsaba the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Békéscsaba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Békéscsaba?
Playa del Carmen costs about 11% more than Békéscsaba, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Békéscsaba?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,940 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,744 in Békéscsaba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Békéscsaba?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Békéscsaba, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Békéscsaba?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen and $45.00 in Békéscsaba. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or in Békéscsaba?
Groceries cost about 16% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Békéscsaba?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Békéscsaba, where all-in costs run around $1,163, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Békéscsaba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Békéscsaba?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Békéscsaba costs $1,163 versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Békéscsaba?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or to Békéscsaba?
If budget matters most, go with Békéscsaba. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared