🙂A single person spends $1,128 per month in Szolnok vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,754 per month in Szolnok vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,379 per month in Szolnok vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Szolnok is about 11% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Szolnok and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Szolnok18% lower, Playa del Carmen7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szolnok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.07Ft 3,205
$11.60MX$200
-13.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.72Ft 15.2K
$47.11MX$812
1.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.44Ft 2,684
$11.88MX$205
-28.96%
Cappuccino
$2.43Ft 774
$3.98MX$68.6
-38.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98Ft 631
$1.43MX$24.60
38.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29Ft 410
$0.82MX$14.22
57.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.62Ft 832
$3.19MX$55.0
-17.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89Ft 920
$6.79MX$117
-57.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szolnok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.92Ft 294
$1.68MX$28.89
-45.24%
White Bread(500g)
$1.28Ft 406
$2.20MX$37.88
-41.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.60Ft 509
$1.71MX$29.45
-6.43%
Eggs
$3.29Ft 1,045
$2.74MX$47.26
20.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.68Ft 2,444
$9.58MX$165
-19.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.64Ft 2,111
$9.01MX$155
-26.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.63Ft 4,336
$12.81MX$221
6.40%
Apples(1kg)
$1.55Ft 494
$2.89MX$49.81
-46.37%
Banana(1kg)
$1.85Ft 589
$1.50MX$25.81
23.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.56Ft 498
$2.15MX$37.03
-27.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.49Ft 793
$2.26MX$38.96
10.18%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67Ft 212
$1.98MX$34.15
-66.16%
Onion(1kg)
$0.74Ft 234
$1.99MX$34.30
-62.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07Ft 339
$1.23MX$21.28
-13.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36Ft 114
$1.20MX$20.63
-70.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.12Ft 2,264
$4.55MX$78.5
56.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.68Ft 1,172
$10.37MX$179
-64.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96Ft 306
$1.62MX$27.91
-40.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30Ft 413
$2.88MX$49.67
-54.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Szolnok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.05Ft 334
$0.60MX$10.35
75.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.38Ft 8,391
$28.80MX$497
-8.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.96Ft 940
$5.39MX$92.9
-45.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.31Ft 734
$3.73MX$64.3
-38.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.42Ft 4,904
$5.77MX$99.5
167.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86Ft 592
$1.54MX$26.48
20.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KFt 9.0M
$22.5KMX$388.8K
25.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.4KFt 12.2M
$26.1KMX$449.3K
47.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szolnok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$130Ft 41.4K
$91.4MX$1,576
42.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.76Ft 9,466
$25.20MX$435
18.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.16Ft 7,366
$31.24MX$539
-25.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szolnok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.60Ft 13.6K
$67.2MX$1,159
-36.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.82Ft 5,988
$29.11MX$502
-35.35%
Cinema Ticket
$3.41Ft 1,085
$4.86MX$83.8
-29.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szolnok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$161Ft 51.2K
$224MX$3,856
-28.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,981Ft 1.6M
$4,229MX$72.9K
17.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szolnok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.6Ft 27.5K
$47.10MX$812
83.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.5Ft 16.4K
$44.29MX$764
16.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.5Ft 29.4K
$80.1MX$1,381
15.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122Ft 38.9K
$92.7MX$1,598
32.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szolnok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$417Ft 132.7K
$1,063MX$18.3K
-60.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$334Ft 106.3K
$390MX$6,728
-14.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$659Ft 209.7K
$2,149MX$37.1K
-69.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$523Ft 166.4K
$1,272MX$21.9K
-58.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,117Ft 673.3K
$4,001MX$69.0K
-47.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,705Ft 542.5K
$6,502MX$112.1K
-73.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szolnok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,082Ft 344.3K
$758MX$13.1K
42.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.69
11.45
-32.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Szolnok: September 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $417 in Szolnok 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 43% higher in Szolnok, 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 $48.00 in Szolnok versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $203 in Szolnok vs $276 in Playa del Carmen – so Szolnok 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
Szolnok vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Szolnok?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,692 per month in Szolnok and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen. 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 Szolnok, 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 Szolnok and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,128 in Szolnok and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. 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 9% less in Szolnok. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Szolnok or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Szolnok, where all-in costs run around $1,128, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Szolnok it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Szolnok or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Szolnok – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Szolnok or Playa del Carmen?
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 Szolnok. 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.