😐A single person spends $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,150 in Esztergom, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,727 in Esztergom, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,305 in Esztergom, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 11% 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, Esztergom14% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Esztergom
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$204
$8.81Ft 2,665
34.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$736
$43.28Ft 13.1K
-0.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$183
$8.50Ft 2,572
25.29%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.2
$1.97Ft 595
75.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.81
$1.43Ft 432
4.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.28
$1.20Ft 364
-20.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$51.9
$1.82Ft 551
66.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.1
$2.35Ft 712
96.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Esztergom
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.61
$1.02Ft 308
35.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.70
$1.53Ft 464
20.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.65
$1.88Ft 570
-14.36%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.51
$2.60Ft 786
-0.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$142
$9.19Ft 2,781
-10.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$144
$6.18Ft 1,871
35.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$183
$12.34Ft 3,735
-13.61%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.12
$1.73Ft 525
52.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.53
$1.91Ft 577
-21.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.94
$1.80Ft 545
6.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.81
$3.34Ft 1,010
-37.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$31.88
$1.10Ft 333
69.09%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.81
$1.38Ft 419
63.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.23
$1.67Ft 504
-36.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.67
$0.50Ft 152
118.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.2
$6.88Ft 2,081
-39.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$178
$6.55Ft 1,982
58.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.59
$1.14Ft 345
50.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$44.85
$1.70Ft 515
53.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Esztergom
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.30
$1.13Ft 341
-52.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$462
$24.62Ft 7,447
9.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$53.7
$2.52Ft 762
24.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.09
$1.15Ft 349
118.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.1
$13.64Ft 4,127
-76.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$21.88
$1.77Ft 537
-28.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$521.3K
$24.9KFt 7.5M
22.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$404.5K
$34.6KFt 10.5M
-31.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Esztergom
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,425
$196Ft 59.3K
-57.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$390
$27.10Ft 8,200
-16.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$506
$19.43Ft 5,880
51.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Esztergom
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$875
$47.02Ft 14.2K
8.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$315
$16.93Ft 5,123
8.27%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$84.5
$7.28Ft 2,203
-32.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Esztergom
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,386
$329Ft 99.5K
-39.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$90.6K
$3,467Ft 1.0M
52.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Esztergom
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$633
$54.4Ft 16.5K
-32.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$685
$27.44Ft 8,303
45.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,373
$62.6Ft 18.9K
27.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,536
$67.9Ft 20.5K
31.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Esztergom
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.4K
$452Ft 136.6K
111.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,189
$340Ft 102.9K
40.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.3K
$646Ft 195.4K
154.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.0K
$523Ft 158.1K
134.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.2K
$2,901Ft 877.8K
35.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$110.9K
$2,494Ft 754.5K
158.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Esztergom
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.4K
$1,223Ft 370.0K
-45.46%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Esztergom: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $452 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 83% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $43.00 in Esztergom. Groceries tell a different story – $250 in Playa del Carmen vs $224 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 11% 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 vs Esztergom?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,725 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 vs Esztergom?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 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 $1,271 in Playa del Carmen and $1,150 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 Esztergom?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Esztergom, where all-in costs run around $1,150, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. 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 $1,150 versus $1,271 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 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