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

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Szolnok 18% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szolnok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.07 Ft 3,205
$11.60 MX$200
-13.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.72 Ft 15.2K
$47.11 MX$812
1.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.44 Ft 2,684
$11.88 MX$205
-28.96%
Cappuccino
$2.43 Ft 774
$3.98 MX$68.6
-38.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 Ft 631
$1.43 MX$24.60
38.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 Ft 410
$0.82 MX$14.22
57.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.62 Ft 832
$3.19 MX$55.0
-17.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 Ft 920
$6.79 MX$117
-57.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szolnok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 Ft 294
$1.68 MX$28.89
-45.24%
White Bread (500g)
$1.28 Ft 406
$2.20 MX$37.88
-41.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.60 Ft 509
$1.71 MX$29.45
-6.43%
Eggs
$3.29 Ft 1,045
$2.74 MX$47.26
20.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.68 Ft 2,444
$9.58 MX$165
-19.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.64 Ft 2,111
$9.01 MX$155
-26.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.63 Ft 4,336
$12.81 MX$221
6.40%
Apples (1kg)
$1.55 Ft 494
$2.89 MX$49.81
-46.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.85 Ft 589
$1.50 MX$25.81
23.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.56 Ft 498
$2.15 MX$37.03
-27.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.49 Ft 793
$2.26 MX$38.96
10.18%
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 Ft 212
$1.98 MX$34.15
-66.16%
Onion (1kg)
$0.74 Ft 234
$1.99 MX$34.30
-62.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 Ft 339
$1.23 MX$21.28
-13.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36 Ft 114
$1.20 MX$20.63
-70.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.12 Ft 2,264
$4.55 MX$78.5
56.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.68 Ft 1,172
$10.37 MX$179
-64.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 Ft 306
$1.62 MX$27.91
-40.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 Ft 413
$2.88 MX$49.67
-54.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Szolnok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.05 Ft 334
$0.60 MX$10.35
75.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.38 Ft 8,391
$28.80 MX$497
-8.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.96 Ft 940
$5.39 MX$92.9
-45.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.31 Ft 734
$3.73 MX$64.3
-38.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.42 Ft 4,904
$5.77 MX$99.5
167.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.86 Ft 592
$1.54 MX$26.48
20.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K Ft 9.0M
$22.5K MX$388.8K
25.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.4K Ft 12.2M
$26.1K MX$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)
$130 Ft 41.4K
$91.4 MX$1,576
42.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.76 Ft 9,466
$25.20 MX$435
18.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.16 Ft 7,366
$31.24 MX$539
-25.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szolnok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.60 Ft 13.6K
$67.2 MX$1,159
-36.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.82 Ft 5,988
$29.11 MX$502
-35.35%
Cinema Ticket
$3.41 Ft 1,085
$4.86 MX$83.8
-29.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szolnok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$161 Ft 51.2K
$224 MX$3,856
-28.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,981 Ft 1.6M
$4,229 MX$72.9K
17.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szolnok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.6 Ft 27.5K
$47.10 MX$812
83.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.5 Ft 16.4K
$44.29 MX$764
16.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.5 Ft 29.4K
$80.1 MX$1,381
15.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 Ft 38.9K
$92.7 MX$1,598
32.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szolnok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$417 Ft 132.7K
$1,063 MX$18.3K
-60.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$334 Ft 106.3K
$390 MX$6,728
-14.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$659 Ft 209.7K
$2,149 MX$37.1K
-69.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$523 Ft 166.4K
$1,272 MX$21.9K
-58.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,117 Ft 673.3K
$4,001 MX$69.0K
-47.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,705 Ft 542.5K
$6,502 MX$112.1K
-73.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szolnok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,082 Ft 344.3K
$758 MX$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.

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