😐A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,142 in Szombathely, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,630 in Szombathely, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,117 in Szombathely, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 10% more than Szombathely, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Szombathely are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen6% lower, Szombathely15% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Szombathely
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$210
$8.60Ft 2,733
39.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$733
$43.64Ft 13.9K
-4.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$189
$8.27Ft 2,627
29.99%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$61.3
$2.10Ft 666
66.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.41
$1.09Ft 346
33.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.52
$0.92Ft 292
-4.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.7
$1.60Ft 508
84.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$79.1
$2.17Ft 690
107.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Szombathely
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$25.12
$1.10Ft 350
30.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$32.23
$1.50Ft 478
22.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.51
$1.83Ft 581
-14.21%
Eggs
$2.51MX$44.06
$2.50Ft 796
0.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$145
$9.10Ft 2,892
-9.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$148
$6.03Ft 1,916
39.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$187
$14.44Ft 4,590
-26.04%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.76
$1.96Ft 624
33.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.22
$1.85Ft 588
-22.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.41
$2.13Ft 676
-7.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.74
$2.86Ft 910
-26.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.47
$1.18Ft 375
56.78%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$38.02
$1.30Ft 412
66.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$18.09
$1.78Ft 567
-42.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.84
$0.58Ft 183
84.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$72.0
$7.12Ft 2,263
-42.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$178
$4.83Ft 1,534
110.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.38
$1.17Ft 372
43.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$44.31
$1.55Ft 492
63.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Szombathely
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.93
$0.83Ft 264
-38.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$457
$17.93Ft 5,698
45.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.7
$2.66Ft 846
21.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$42.19
$1.15Ft 366
109.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.6
$22.21Ft 7,059
-85.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.17
$1.68Ft 533
-21.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$520.9K
$27.5KFt 8.7M
8.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$415.0K
$26.2KFt 8.3M
-9.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Szombathely
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,439
$165Ft 52.3K
-50.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$403
$27.78Ft 8,827
-17.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$528
$19.85Ft 6,308
51.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Szombathely
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$912
$45.59Ft 14.5K
13.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$325
$17.06Ft 5,420
8.62%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$87.3
$4.21Ft 1,338
18.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Szombathely
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,463
$397Ft 126.2K
-50.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$93.6K
$7,179Ft 2.3M
-25.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Szombathely
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$624
$93.2Ft 29.6K
-61.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$707
$44.69Ft 14.2K
-9.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,381
$93.2Ft 29.6K
-15.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,560
$100Ft 31.9K
-11.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Szombathely
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.6K
$430Ft 136.5K
120.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,314
$319Ft 101.4K
48.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.8K
$436Ft 138.5K
277.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.2K
$345Ft 109.5K
251.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$71.1K
$2,531Ft 804.2K
60.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$113.5K
$2,096Ft 666.0K
208.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Szombathely
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.5K
$1,203Ft 382.2K
-45.64%
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 13, 2026
Last update for Szombathely: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $430 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 84% 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 $44.00 in Szombathely. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Playa del Carmen vs $227 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 10%, 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 $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,713 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 and in Szombathely?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $1,142 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 45% less in Szombathely. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Szombathely?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Szombathely, where all-in costs run around $1,142, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared