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