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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,481 per month in Zgorzelec vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Zgorzelec vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,882 per month in Zgorzelec vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Zgorzelec costs about 17% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Zgorzelec sits 8% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.22 zł 35.00

$11.60 MX$200

-20.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.8 zł 200

$47.11 MX$811

11.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.11 zł 30.81

$11.88 MX$205

-31.73%

Cappuccino

$3.23 zł 12.25

$3.98 MX$68.5

-18.84%

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

$0.95 zł 3.60

$1.43 MX$24.57

-33.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 zł 6.29

$0.82 MX$14.20

102.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.58 zł 6.00

$3.19 MX$54.9

-50.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 zł 8.03

$6.79 MX$117

-68.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 zł 3.63

$1.68 MX$28.85

-42.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 zł 4.96

$2.20 MX$37.83

-40.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 zł 5.58

$1.71 MX$29.41

-14.04%

Eggs

$3.82 zł 14.52

$2.74 MX$47.20

39.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.92 zł 33.85

$9.58 MX$165

-6.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.28 zł 23.85

$9.01 MX$155

-30.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.64 zł 51.8

$12.81 MX$221

6.48%

Apples (1kg)

$0.90 zł 3.41

$2.89 MX$49.74

-68.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 zł 6.00

$1.50 MX$25.78

5.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 zł 6.73

$2.15 MX$36.98

-17.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 zł 6.15

$2.26 MX$38.91

-28.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 zł 2.65

$1.98 MX$34.10

-64.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.04 zł 3.95

$1.99 MX$34.26

-47.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 zł 4.89

$1.23 MX$21.25

4.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 zł 2.72

$1.20 MX$20.60

-40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.85 zł 18.41

$4.55 MX$78.3

6.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.96 zł 30.21

$10.37 MX$179

-23.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 zł 3.43

$1.62 MX$27.88

-44.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 zł 5.58

$2.88 MX$49.60

-48.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 zł 4.10

$0.60 MX$10.34

80.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.70 zł 101

$28.80 MX$496

-7.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 zł 9.20

$5.39 MX$92.8

-55.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.08 zł 4.09

$3.73 MX$64.2

-71.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.15 zł 49.92

$5.77 MX$99.3

127.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.62 zł 6.14

$1.54 MX$26.45

5.19%

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

$31.3K zł 118.7K

$22.5K MX$388.3K

38.66%

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

$28.2K zł 107.2K

$26.1K MX$448.7K

8.37%

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

$299 zł 1,134

$91.4 MX$1,573

226.79%

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

$7.93 zł 30.12

$25.20 MX$434

-68.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.91 zł 75.6

$31.24 MX$538

-36.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.24 zł 149

$67.2 MX$1,157

-41.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.18 zł 88.0

$29.11 MX$501

-20.37%

Cinema Ticket

$7.96 zł 30.24

$4.86 MX$83.7

63.79%

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

$512 zł 1,945

$224 MX$3,851

129.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,726 zł 29.3K

$4,229 MX$72.8K

82.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.4 zł 313

$47.10 MX$811

74.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.68 zł 147

$44.29 MX$763

-12.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.4 zł 339

$80.1 MX$1,379

11.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 zł 424

$92.7 MX$1,596

20.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 zł 2,717

$1,063 MX$18.3K

-32.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$492 zł 1,866

$390 MX$6,719

25.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,165 zł 4,421

$2,149 MX$37.0K

-45.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$766 zł 2,909

$1,272 MX$21.9K

-39.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,113 zł 11.8K

$4,001 MX$68.9K

-22.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,189 zł 8,309

$6,502 MX$112.0K

-66.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,426 zł 5,414

$758 MX$13.1K

88.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.63

11.45

-42.10%

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

Last update for Zgorzelec: September 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Zgorzelec 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 88% higher in Zgorzelec, 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 $53.0 in Zgorzelec versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $213 in Zgorzelec vs $276 in Playa del Carmen – so Zgorzelec 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

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

Yes – Zgorzelec is pricier by about 17%, 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 $2,222 per month in Zgorzelec 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 $1,481 in Zgorzelec 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 8% 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 Zgorzelec at $1,481. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Zgorzelec 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, Zgorzelec makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.