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 $1,539 per month in Szczecinek vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,179 per month in Szczecinek vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,820 per month in Szczecinek vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Szczecinek costs about 19% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Szczecinek sits 15% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.66 zł 38.85

$11.73 MX$203

-9.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.71 zł 90.1

$41.62 MX$719

-40.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.21 zł 33.58

$10.64 MX$184

-13.44%

Cappuccino

$3.69 zł 13.44

$3.52 MX$60.8

4.83%

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

$1.04 zł 3.80

$1.51 MX$26.09

-31.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 zł 2.54

$0.97 MX$16.82

-27.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.19 zł 15.28

$2.95 MX$51.0

42.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 zł 5.60

$4.45 MX$77.0

-65.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 zł 4.04

$1.38 MX$23.90

-19.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 zł 3.86

$1.89 MX$32.69

-43.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 zł 5.63

$1.64 MX$28.29

-5.49%

Eggs

$3.40 zł 12.41

$2.51 MX$43.30

35.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.33 zł 30.39

$8.34 MX$144

-0.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.51 zł 27.38

$8.34 MX$144

-9.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.79 zł 46.63

$10.73 MX$185

19.20%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 zł 3.72

$2.60 MX$45.00

-60.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 zł 7.21

$1.46 MX$25.18

35.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 zł 7.09

$1.90 MX$32.84

2.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.07 zł 11.18

$2.08 MX$35.88

47.60%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 zł 3.38

$1.78 MX$30.68

-47.75%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 zł 2.55

$2.19 MX$37.76

-68.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.55 zł 5.66

$1.04 MX$17.97

49.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 zł 2.53

$1.08 MX$18.60

-36.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.43 zł 19.80

$4.08 MX$70.5

33.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.48 zł 30.93

$10.32 MX$178

-17.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 zł 4.07

$1.71 MX$29.59

-35.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 zł 5.82

$2.58 MX$44.50

-37.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.11 zł 4.05

$0.51 MX$8.81

117.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.71 zł 119

$26.46 MX$457

23.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 zł 8.63

$3.26 MX$56.4

-27.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 zł 2.82

$2.49 MX$43.05

-69.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.61 zł 49.62

$3.25 MX$56.1

318.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.76 zł 6.42

$1.31 MX$22.59

34.35%

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

$34.3K zł 124.9K

$30.3K MX$523.2K

13.16%

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

$30.2K zł 109.9K

$23.4K MX$404.9K

28.69%

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

$361 zł 1,318

$82.9 MX$1,432

336.13%

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

$11.75 zł 42.83

$22.22 MX$384

-47.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.59 zł 56.8

$29.34 MX$507

-46.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.01 zł 135

$51.6 MX$892

-28.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.41 zł 70.8

$18.32 MX$317

5.95%

Cinema Ticket

$7.54 zł 27.51

$5.07 MX$87.5

48.72%

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

$377 zł 1,373

$201 MX$3,470

87.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,552 zł 23.9K

$5,212 MX$90.1K

25.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$122 zł 445

$36.92 MX$638

230.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.47 zł 169

$39.79 MX$688

16.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 zł 400

$78.5 MX$1,356

39.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.2 zł 329

$87.1 MX$1,505

3.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$505 zł 1,843

$973 MX$16.8K

-48.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$494 zł 1,803

$468 MX$8,082

5.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$962 zł 3,506

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-41.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$807 zł 2,944

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-33.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,673 zł 9,747

$3,946 MX$68.2K

-32.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,552 zł 9,307

$6,498 MX$112.3K

-60.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,354 zł 4,938

$664 MX$11.5K

103.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.2

11.42

-63.22%

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

Last update for Szczecinek: June 2, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $505 in Szczecinek versus $973 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 104% 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 $25.00 in Szczecinek versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $227 vs $249 – 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 19%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,309 per month in Szczecinek and $1,945 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 $1,539 in Szczecinek and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 24% 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 $1,297, than in Szczecinek at $1,539. 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.