Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Pecs Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Pecs

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,436 in Pecs.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,144 in Pecs.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,362 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,853 in Pecs.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 9% less than in Pecs, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 5% below, Pecs is 4% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Pecs
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96 MX$203
$12.59 Ft 3,945
-5.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.38 MX$804
$58.9 Ft 18.4K
-19.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.75 MX$199
$9.44 Ft 2,956
24.47%
Cappuccino
$4.12 MX$70.0
$2.56 Ft 801
60.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 MX$23.74
$1.41 Ft 441
-0.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 MX$15.48
$1.34 Ft 420
-32.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 MX$54.4
$1.86 Ft 582
72.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07 MX$120
$2.51 Ft 786
181.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Pecs
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.44
$1.28 Ft 401
31.25%
White Bread (500g)
$2.15 MX$36.48
$1.69 Ft 530
27.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 MX$30.10
$2.57 Ft 806
-31.13%
Eggs
$2.82 MX$47.76
$3.37 Ft 1,056
-16.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.20 MX$156
$10.87 Ft 3,404
-15.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.23 MX$157
$6.91 Ft 2,165
33.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.64 MX$214
$17.30 Ft 5,419
-26.94%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 MX$50.1
$2.61 Ft 818
13.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 MX$26.79
$2.39 Ft 750
-33.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 MX$37.70
$2.74 Ft 859
-18.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.36 MX$40.09
$4.06 Ft 1,271
-41.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 MX$33.81
$1.18 Ft 369
68.64%
Onion (1kg)
$1.98 MX$33.58
$1.42 Ft 445
39.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 MX$21.04
$1.94 Ft 607
-36.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 MX$20.55
$0.57 Ft 178
112.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60 MX$78.1
$8.72 Ft 2,732
-47.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.52 MX$178
$4.94 Ft 1,548
112.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 MX$28.70
$1.42 Ft 444
19.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 MX$47.06
$2.66 Ft 832
4.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Pecs
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.22
$1.58 Ft 495
-62.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.70 MX$504
$24.97 Ft 7,821
18.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.24 MX$88.8
$3.54 Ft 1,108
48.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.65 MX$61.9
$1.55 Ft 487
135.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.78 MX$98.1
$25.20 Ft 7,893
-77.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.09
$1.87 Ft 585
-17.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K MX$386.8K
$31.5K Ft 9.9M
-27.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K MX$437.9K
$39.1K Ft 12.3M
-34.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Pecs
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.7 MX$1,538
$179 Ft 56.1K
-49.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19 MX$427
$21.40 Ft 6,705
17.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75 MX$539
$21.62 Ft 6,773
46.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Pecs
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.8 MX$1,167
$49.57 Ft 15.5K
38.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37 MX$498
$18.84 Ft 5,901
55.89%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$82.5
$9.05 Ft 2,836
-46.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Pecs
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$226 MX$3,828
$455 Ft 142.5K
-50.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,194 MX$71.1K
$7,932 Ft 2.5M
-47.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Pecs
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38 MX$804
$104 Ft 32.6K
-54.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45 MX$737
$53.5 Ft 16.8K
-18.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.2 MX$1,361
$100 Ft 31.4K
-20.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4 MX$1,550
$114 Ft 35.7K
-19.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Pecs
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,086 MX$18.4K
$651 Ft 204.0K
66.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$409 MX$6,933
$458 Ft 143.4K
-10.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,972 MX$33.5K
$1,023 Ft 320.6K
92.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,281 MX$21.7K
$728 Ft 228.0K
76.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,046 MX$68.6K
$3,495 Ft 1.1M
15.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,704 MX$113.7K
$2,990 Ft 936.6K
124.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Pecs
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$773 MX$13.1K
$1,122 Ft 351.4K
-31.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
8
43.12%

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 Pecs: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen and $651 in Pecs. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pecs pays 45% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $59.0 in Pecs. Groceries flip the comparison at $278 vs $274, with Pecs cheaper for home cooking.

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 Pecs: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pecs cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Pecs?
On paper, salaries run 45% lower in Pecs. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Pecs?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $651 in Pecs. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 19% less than in Pecs. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $226 in Playa del Carmen versus $455 in Pecs. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Pecs?
At $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,436 in Pecs, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Pecs. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Pecs more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Pecs, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Pecs?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Pecs are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Pecs. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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