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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,560 per month in Szczecinek vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,253 per month in Szczecinek vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,945 per month in Szczecinek vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Szczecinek costs about 23% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Szczecinek sits 14% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.89 zł 45.23

$11.60 MX$200

2.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.68 zł 174

$47.11 MX$812

-3.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.30 zł 35.35

$11.88 MX$205

-21.72%

Cappuccino

$3.63 zł 13.80

$3.98 MX$68.6

-8.79%

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

$1.19 zł 4.53

$1.43 MX$24.60

-16.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 zł 3.53

$0.82 MX$14.22

13.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 zł 12.20

$3.19 MX$55.0

0.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 zł 5.62

$6.79 MX$117

-78.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 zł 3.53

$1.68 MX$28.89

-44.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 zł 4.77

$2.20 MX$37.88

-43.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 zł 5.39

$1.71 MX$29.45

-16.96%

Eggs

$3.77 zł 14.35

$2.74 MX$47.26

37.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.78 zł 29.60

$9.58 MX$165

-18.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.18 zł 23.52

$9.01 MX$155

-31.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.64 zł 51.9

$12.81 MX$221

6.48%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 zł 4.66

$2.89 MX$49.81

-57.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 zł 4.49

$1.50 MX$25.81

-21.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.74 zł 6.61

$2.15 MX$37.03

-19.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.58 zł 9.80

$2.26 MX$38.96

14.16%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 zł 2.87

$1.98 MX$34.15

-62.12%

Onion (1kg)

$0.84 zł 3.20

$1.99 MX$34.30

-57.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 zł 5.10

$1.23 MX$21.28

8.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 zł 2.78

$1.20 MX$20.63

-39.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.00 zł 22.82

$4.55 MX$78.5

31.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.94 zł 30.20

$10.37 MX$179

-23.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 zł 4.65

$1.62 MX$27.91

-24.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 zł 5.63

$2.88 MX$49.67

-48.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.27 zł 4.84

$0.60 MX$10.35

111.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$33.80 zł 129

$28.80 MX$497

17.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 zł 9.26

$5.39 MX$92.9

-54.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 zł 3.97

$3.73 MX$64.3

-71.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.06 zł 45.87

$5.77 MX$99.5

109.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 zł 5.75

$1.54 MX$26.48

-1.95%

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

$31.6K zł 120.2K

$22.5K MX$388.8K

40.17%

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

$28.1K zł 107.0K

$26.1K MX$449.3K

8.01%

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

$300 zł 1,142

$91.4 MX$1,576

228.62%

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

$8.30 zł 31.58

$25.20 MX$435

-67.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.19 zł 73.0

$31.24 MX$539

-38.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.95 zł 148

$67.2 MX$1,159

-42.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.34 zł 92.6

$29.11 MX$502

-16.39%

Cinema Ticket

$7.89 zł 29.99

$4.86 MX$83.8

62.35%

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

$213 zł 810

$224 MX$3,856

-4.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,927 zł 30.1K

$4,229 MX$72.9K

87.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.1 zł 323

$47.10 MX$812

80.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.58 zł 147

$44.29 MX$764

-12.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.8 zł 338

$80.1 MX$1,381

10.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 zł 435

$92.7 MX$1,598

23.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$587 zł 2,231

$1,063 MX$18.3K

-44.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$549 zł 2,089

$390 MX$6,728

40.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 zł 4,022

$2,149 MX$37.1K

-50.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$911 zł 3,464

$1,272 MX$21.9K

-28.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,648 zł 10.1K

$4,001 MX$69.0K

-33.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,352 zł 8,945

$6,502 MX$112.1K

-63.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,331 zł 5,063

$758 MX$13.1K

75.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.2

11.45

-63.32%

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

Last update for Szczecinek: September 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $587 in Szczecinek versus $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. 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 76% higher in Szczecinek, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Szczecinek versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $214 vs $276 – making Szczecinek the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Szczecinek vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Szczecinek is pricier by about 23%, 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 $2,340 per month in Szczecinek and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, 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 $1,560 in Szczecinek and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 17% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in Szczecinek at $1,560. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Szczecinek it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – 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 Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Szczecinek makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.