😐A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,157 in Esztergom, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,723 in Esztergom, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,289 in Esztergom, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 9% more than Esztergom, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Esztergom are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Esztergom13% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Esztergom
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$8.81Ft 2,777
33.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$42.84Ft 13.5K
-2.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$8.47Ft 2,668
24.09%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$2.03Ft 639
76.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$1.42Ft 449
6.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$1.20Ft 380
-23.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$1.91Ft 601
54.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$2.31Ft 729
90.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Esztergom
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$1.01Ft 318
38.61%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$1.57Ft 496
19.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$1.92Ft 605
-18.75%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$2.72Ft 857
-4.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$9.42Ft 2,968
-11.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$6.03Ft 1,900
38.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$12.33Ft 3,884
-11.92%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$1.72Ft 543
57.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$1.98Ft 625
-23.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$1.85Ft 582
1.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$3.33Ft 1,049
-34.23%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$1.10Ft 346
69.09%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$1.42Ft 448
57.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$1.68Ft 529
-36.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$0.54Ft 170
101.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$6.90Ft 2,173
-39.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
$6.30Ft 1,984
65.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$1.15Ft 362
44.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
$1.71Ft 537
52.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Esztergom
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$1.14Ft 358
-52.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
$25.30Ft 7,972
3.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$2.57Ft 809
19.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
$1.11Ft 348
116.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$13.60Ft 4,284
-76.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$1.75Ft 551
-25.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$24.8KFt 7.8M
20.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$34.8KFt 11.0M
-32.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Esztergom
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
$196Ft 61.8K
-58.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
$26.80Ft 8,444
-15.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$20.03Ft 6,310
50.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Esztergom
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$45.91Ft 14.5K
15.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
$16.63Ft 5,239
10.58%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
$7.15Ft 2,253
-31.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Esztergom
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$327Ft 103.0K
-38.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$3,465Ft 1.1M
49.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Esztergom
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$56.3Ft 17.8K
-36.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$27.47Ft 8,656
46.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$62.1Ft 19.6K
28.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$66.0Ft 20.8K
31.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Esztergom
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$445Ft 140.2K
119.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
$349Ft 109.9K
34.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$629Ft 198.1K
162.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
$538Ft 169.6K
123.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
$2,665Ft 839.6K
48.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
$2,411Ft 759.6K
174.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Esztergom
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
$1,202Ft 378.8K
-43.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
7.5
52.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Last update for Esztergom: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $445 in Esztergom. 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 78% higher in Esztergom, 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $43.00 in Esztergom. Groceries tell a different story – $252 in Playa del Carmen vs $225 in Esztergom – so Esztergom wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Esztergom: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Esztergom?
Playa del Carmen costs about 9% more than Esztergom, 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 Esztergom?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,735 in Esztergom. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Esztergom?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Esztergom, 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 Esztergom?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $43.00 in Esztergom. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Esztergom?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $1,157 in Esztergom. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Esztergom?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Esztergom, where all-in costs run around $1,157, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Esztergom 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 Esztergom?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Esztergom costs $1,157 versus $1,260 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 Esztergom?
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 Esztergom?
If budget matters most, go with Esztergom. 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