😐A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,258 in Szombathely, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,005 in Szombathely, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,753 in Szombathely, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 1% more than Szombathely, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Szombathely are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen7% lower, Szombathely8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Szombathely
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$199
$12.59Ft 3,980
-7.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$807
$56.0Ft 17.7K
-15.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$204
$8.98Ft 2,839
32.29%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.1
$2.47Ft 780
61.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.45
$1.40Ft 441
2.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.13
$1.33Ft 422
-38.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$54.6
$1.85Ft 586
72.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$116
$2.42Ft 764
180.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Szombathely
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.71
$1.23Ft 390
36.59%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.64
$1.71Ft 540
28.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.27
$2.45Ft 774
-30.20%
Eggs
$2.74MX$46.96
$3.43Ft 1,084
-20.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$164
$10.60Ft 3,352
-9.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$154
$6.99Ft 2,211
28.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$219
$16.95Ft 5,359
-24.42%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.49
$2.31Ft 731
25.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.65
$2.13Ft 675
-29.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.80
$2.56Ft 811
-16.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.71
$3.44Ft 1,086
-34.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$33.93
$1.17Ft 369
69.23%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.09
$1.44Ft 454
38.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.15
$1.90Ft 601
-35.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.50
$0.61Ft 192
96.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.0
$8.56Ft 2,708
-46.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$178
$4.73Ft 1,495
119.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.74
$1.32Ft 417
22.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.35
$2.66Ft 841
8.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Szombathely
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.29
$0.86Ft 273
-30.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$493
$27.69Ft 8,755
4.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.3
$2.85Ft 901
89.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$63.9
$1.40Ft 443
166.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$98.9
$24.55Ft 7,762
-76.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.32
$1.89Ft 598
-18.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$386.3K
$29.8KFt 9.4M
-24.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$446.5K
$33.9KFt 10.7M
-23.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Szombathely
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,566
$173Ft 54.6K
-47.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$432
$21.19Ft 6,700
18.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$535
$21.29Ft 6,730
46.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Szombathely
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,151
$49.16Ft 15.5K
36.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$499
$20.03Ft 6,332
45.33%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.3
$4.63Ft 1,464
4.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Szombathely
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,832
$437Ft 138.1K
-48.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.5K
$8,042Ft 2.5M
-47.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Szombathely
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$807
$104Ft 33.0K
-54.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$759
$53.5Ft 16.9K
-17.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,373
$99.1Ft 31.3K
-19.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,588
$116Ft 36.7K
-20.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Szombathely
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.2K
$543Ft 171.8K
95.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,686
$353Ft 111.7K
10.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$36.8K
$769Ft 243.3K
179.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.8K
$681Ft 215.2K
86.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$68.6K
$2,489Ft 786.9K
60.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$111.4K
$2,030Ft 641.9K
220.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Szombathely
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.0K
$1,186Ft 375.0K
-36.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
7.5
52.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Last update for Szombathely: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $543 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 56% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $56.0 in Szombathely. Groceries tell a different story – $276 in Playa del Carmen vs $265 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 1%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,887 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 $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $1,258 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 4% 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 $1,258, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. 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