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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,119 in Szombathely, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,614 in Szombathely, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,110 in Szombathely, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 16% more than Szombathely, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Szombathely are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Szombathely 17% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Szombathely
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$8.74 Ft 2,667
34.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$720
$43.50 Ft 13.3K
-4.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$8.59 Ft 2,620
23.86%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$60.9
$2.17 Ft 663
62.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.12
$1.10 Ft 336
37.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.84
$0.98 Ft 299
-1.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.0
$1.57 Ft 478
87.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.0
$2.19 Ft 668
103.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Szombathely
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.93
$1.05 Ft 321
31.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.72
$1.50 Ft 457
26.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.32
$1.81 Ft 553
-9.39%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.34
$2.42 Ft 739
3.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$9.05 Ft 2,759
-7.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$6.14 Ft 1,872
35.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
$14.30 Ft 4,361
-24.97%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.04
$1.96 Ft 599
32.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.20
$1.83 Ft 558
-20.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.87
$2.20 Ft 670
-13.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.91
$2.91 Ft 888
-28.52%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.71
$1.13 Ft 345
57.52%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.80
$1.22 Ft 373
79.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$17.99
$1.80 Ft 549
-42.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.62
$0.54 Ft 163
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.6
$7.16 Ft 2,183
-43.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$178
$5.02 Ft 1,531
105.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.61
$1.17 Ft 357
46.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.54
$1.57 Ft 478
64.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Szombathely
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.81
$0.81 Ft 247
-37.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$458
$18.44 Ft 5,625
43.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.4
$2.66 Ft 811
22.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.09
$1.16 Ft 354
114.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.2
$22.24 Ft 6,782
-85.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.61
$1.68 Ft 512
-22.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$523.7K
$27.5K Ft 8.4M
10.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$405.3K
$25.4K Ft 7.7M
-7.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Szombathely
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,433
$166 Ft 50.5K
-49.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$384
$27.27 Ft 8,315
-18.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$507
$19.55 Ft 5,961
50.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Szombathely
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$893
$46.17 Ft 14.1K
11.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
$16.75 Ft 5,108
9.37%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.6
$4.34 Ft 1,322
16.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Szombathely
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,473
$402 Ft 122.6K
-50.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.1K
$7,204 Ft 2.2M
-27.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Szombathely
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$639
$91.8 Ft 28.0K
-59.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$688
$45.08 Ft 13.7K
-11.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,357
$93.0 Ft 28.4K
-15.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,506
$101 Ft 30.8K
-13.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Szombathely
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.8K
$429 Ft 131.0K
126.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,090
$313 Ft 95.4K
49.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$440 Ft 134.1K
273.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.1K
$341 Ft 103.9K
258.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.3K
$2,656 Ft 810.0K
48.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.4K
$2,156 Ft 657.6K
201.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Szombathely
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
$1,262 Ft 384.9K
-47.39%
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 2, 2026

Last update for Szombathely: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $429 in Szombathely. 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 90% higher in Szombathely, 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 Szombathely. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Playa del Carmen vs $226 in Szombathely – so Szombathely 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 Szombathely: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Szombathely cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 16%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,678 in Szombathely. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Szombathely, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Szombathely?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $1,119 in Szombathely. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 43% less in Szombathely. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Szombathely?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Szombathely, where all-in costs run around $1,119, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Szombathely it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Szombathely more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Szombathely – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Szombathely?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Szombathely. 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.

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