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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,294 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $962 in Zalaegerszeg, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,189 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,472 in Zalaegerszeg, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,084 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,981 in Zalaegerszeg, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 34% more than Zalaegerszeg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Zalaegerszeg are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Zalaegerszeg 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$202

$11.71 Ft 3,518

0.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$719

$57.6 Ft 17.3K

-27.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.41 MX$179

$8.51 Ft 2,558

22.33%

Cappuccino

$3.61 MX$62.1

$2.24 Ft 672

61.16%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 MX$25.06

$1.61 Ft 485

-9.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.70

$1.19 Ft 358

-18.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 MX$50.3

$1.88 Ft 565

55.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.62 MX$79.5

$1.89 Ft 568

144.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.59

$1.03 Ft 310

38.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 MX$32.70

$1.42 Ft 427

33.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$26.95

$2.12 Ft 637

-25.94%

Eggs

$2.64 MX$45.34

$3.01 Ft 905

-12.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.44 MX$145

$9.77 Ft 2,935

-13.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.58 MX$148

$4.64 Ft 1,393

84.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.00 MX$189

$7.41 Ft 2,226

48.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.70 MX$46.51

$1.47 Ft 442

83.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$25.92

$1.99 Ft 598

-24.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 MX$32.93

$1.90 Ft 570

0.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.37

$3.52 Ft 1,059

-38.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.25

$1.12 Ft 337

66.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.43

$1.26 Ft 380

76.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.60

$1.16 Ft 349

-6.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.47

$0.54 Ft 163

98.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 MX$71.6

$6.80 Ft 2,043

-38.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.29 MX$177

$5.87 Ft 1,765

75.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$28.95

$0.89 Ft 269

88.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$43.59

$1.40 Ft 421

80.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 MX$9.53

$1.08 Ft 323

-49.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.29 MX$452

$17.22 Ft 5,175

52.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 MX$55.0

$3.11 Ft 934

2.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.46 MX$42.37

$1.02 Ft 306

141.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 MX$55.0

$19.24 Ft 5,780

-83.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$22.72

$1.80 Ft 542

-26.67%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.2K MX$518.8K

$26.1K Ft 7.8M

15.53%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.4K MX$402.5K

$30.9K Ft 9.3M

-24.24%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$81.4 MX$1,400

$135 Ft 40.7K

-39.87%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.41 MX$386

$25.69 Ft 7,721

-12.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.97 MX$516

$20.44 Ft 6,143

46.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$887

$36.96 Ft 11.1K

39.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$316

$34.78 Ft 10.4K

-47.12%

Cinema Ticket

$5.16 MX$88.9

$7.03 Ft 2,113

-26.60%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$202 MX$3,471

$203 Ft 61.1K

-0.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,311 MX$91.4K

$6,322 Ft 1.9M

-16.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.61 MX$613

$28.86 Ft 8,673

23.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.37 MX$695

$22.57 Ft 6,782

78.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.6 MX$1,353

$47.45 Ft 14.3K

65.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.9 MX$1,495

$52.4 Ft 15.7K

65.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$950 MX$16.3K

$321 Ft 96.6K

195.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$478 MX$8,227

$275 Ft 82.6K

73.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 MX$27.9K

$431 Ft 129.7K

275.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 MX$21.0K

$293 Ft 88.0K

317.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,009 MX$69.0K

$2,010 Ft 603.9K

99.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,473 MX$111.4K

$1,654 Ft 497.0K

291.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$673 MX$11.6K

$836 Ft 251.3K

-19.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

63.14%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026

Last update for Zalaegerszeg: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $950 in Playa del Carmen versus $321 in Zalaegerszeg. 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 24% higher in Zalaegerszeg, 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 $58.0 in Zalaegerszeg. Groceries tell a different story – $254 in Playa del Carmen vs $200 in Zalaegerszeg – so Zalaegerszeg 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 Zalaegerszeg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 34%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,941 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,444 in Zalaegerszeg. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Zalaegerszeg, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,294 in Playa del Carmen and $962 in Zalaegerszeg. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 53% less in Zalaegerszeg. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Zalaegerszeg, where all-in costs run around $962, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,294. In Zalaegerszeg it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Zalaegerszeg – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Zalaegerszeg. 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.