Cost of Living Comparison Between Lake Forest, CA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Lake Forest, CA and Playa del Carmen

😐 Solo nomad: Lake Forest, CA is 72.7% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 132.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Lake Forest, CA is 77.8% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 104.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lake Forest, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.98 $24.98
$11.73 MX$222
112.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$98.3 $98.3
$41.52 MX$785
136.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.12 $10.12
$10.57 MX$200
-4.26%
Cappuccino
$5.8 $5.8
$3.49 MX$65.9
66.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 $2.74
$1.45 MX$27.33
88.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 $2.29
$0.97 MX$18.33
136.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.68 $8.68
$3.03 MX$57.2
186.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.73 $8.73
$4.59 MX$86.8
90.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lake Forest, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 $1.17
$1.42 MX$26.87
-17.61%
White Bread (500g)
$4.5 $4.5
$1.87 MX$35.43
140.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.78 $4.78
$1.54 MX$29.2
210.39%
Eggs
$4.58 $4.58
$2.6 MX$49.21
76.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.69 $12.69
$8.32 MX$157
52.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.1 $17.1
$8.54 MX$161
100.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.88 $19.88
$10.67 MX$202
86.32%
Apples (1kg)
$6.47 $6.47
$2.66 MX$50.2
143.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.51 MX$28.5
21.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.32 $4.32
$1.9 MX$35.87
127.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.48 $5.48
$2.19 MX$41.45
150.23%
Potato (1kg)
$3.17 $3.17
$1.78 MX$33.7
78.09%
Onion (1kg)
$3.06 $3.06
$2.17 MX$41.05
41.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 $1.92
$1.07 MX$20.14
79.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$1.09 MX$20.53
100.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.59 $9.59
$4.17 MX$78.8
129.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.69 $19.69
$8.75 MX$165
125.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.69 MX$31.91
4.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.11 $4.11
$2.53 MX$47.74
62.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Lake Forest, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.51 $3.51
$0.51 MX$9.59
588.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.97 MX$510
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 $3.14
$3.25 MX$61.4
-3.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.69 $2.69
$2.49 MX$47.01
8.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.16 $29.16
$3.22 MX$60.8
805.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.3 $1.3
$1.26 MX$23.87
3.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29K $29K
$29.8K MX$564.1K
-2.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27K $27K
$23.4K MX$442.5K
15.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lake Forest, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$202 $202
$84.2 MX$1,592
139.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.9 $53.9
$22.8 MX$431
136.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.5 $72.5
$30.04 MX$568
141.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lake Forest, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.69 $49.69
$51.4 MX$972
-3.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.28 MX$346
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.16 $17.16
$4.97 MX$94.1
245.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lake Forest, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,782 $1,782
$197 MX$3,719
806.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.4K $23.4K
$5,254 MX$99.3K
345.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lake Forest, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.1 $63.1
$35.81 MX$677
76.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.96 $39.96
$39.43 MX$745
1.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 $100
$80.9 MX$1,529
23.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153 $153
$86.3 MX$1,631
77.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lake Forest, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,434 $1,434
$968 MX$18.3K
48.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,493 $1,493
$478 MX$9,037
212.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,156 $3,156
$1,631 MX$30.8K
93.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,812 $2,812
$1,197 MX$22.6K
135.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,186 $8,186
$3,137 MX$59.3K
160.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,857 $6,857
$7,586 MX$143.4K
-9.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lake Forest, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,963 $6,963
$805 MX$15.2K
764.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.49
11.42
-43.17%

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

Last update for Lake Forest, CA: November 3, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: November 2, 2025

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