Cost of Living Comparison Between Lake Macquarie and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Lake Macquarie and Playa del Carmen

😐 Solo nomad: Lake Macquarie is 10.7% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 59.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Lake Macquarie is 66.8% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 47.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lake Macquarie
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.91 A$19.78
$11.99 MX$227
7.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.1 A$118
$42.47 MX$803
81.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.66 A$14.79
$10.47 MX$198
-7.74%
Cappuccino
$3.34 A$5.12
$3.6 MX$68.2
-7.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 A$3.65
$1.44 MX$27.16
65.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2 A$3.07
$0.89 MX$16.79
124.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.35 A$9.72
$3.09 MX$58.5
105.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.96 A$10.66
$4.58 MX$86.6
51.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lake Macquarie
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 A$2.1
$1.38 MX$26.04
-0.72%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 A$2.2
$1.85 MX$34.9
-22.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 A$1.82
$1.57 MX$29.68
-24.20%
Eggs
$3.14 A$4.81
$2.55 MX$48.3
23.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.51 A$11.5
$8.61 MX$163
-12.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.07 A$9.3
$8.54 MX$161
-28.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.78 A$18.05
$10.98 MX$208
7.29%
Apples (1kg)
$3.11 A$4.76
$2.72 MX$51.4
14.34%
Banana (1kg)
$2.7 A$4.13
$1.51 MX$28.57
78.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.16 A$4.84
$1.88 MX$35.63
68.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.33 A$6.64
$2.19 MX$41.42
97.72%
Potato (1kg)
$1.95 A$2.98
$1.87 MX$35.3
4.28%
Onion (1kg)
$1.74 A$2.66
$2.19 MX$41.37
-20.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.35 A$2.07
$1.07 MX$20.23
26.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 A$1.73
$1.09 MX$20.64
3.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$27.52 A$42.16
$3.96 MX$74.9
594.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.24 A$11.09
$8.86 MX$167
-18.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.62 A$4.02
$1.72 MX$32.53
52.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 A$3.3
$2.61 MX$49.37
-17.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Lake Macquarie
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.07 A$3.17
$0.52 MX$9.74
298.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$88.9 A$136
$26.59 MX$503
234.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.87 A$2.86
$3.24 MX$61.2
-42.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 A$2.37
$2.38 MX$44.94
-34.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$46.5 A$71.2
$3.11 MX$58.7
1395.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 A$1.82
$1.31 MX$24.85
-9.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K A$38.2K
$30.3K MX$573K
-17.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2K A$30.9K
$24K MX$453.6K
-15.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lake Macquarie
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$204 A$313
$84.2 MX$1,592
142.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.26 A$15.72
$22.14 MX$419
-53.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.08 A$64.5
$30.14 MX$570
39.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lake Macquarie
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.44 A$75.7
$52 MX$983
-4.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.88 A$24.33
$18.72 MX$354
-15.17%
Cinema Ticket
$9.2 A$14.1
$5.07 MX$95.9
81.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lake Macquarie
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,446 A$2,215
$200 MX$3,787
621.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,951 A$15.2K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
86.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lake Macquarie
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.4 A$112
$35.74 MX$676
105.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.88 A$51.9
$39.8 MX$753
-14.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.6 A$117
$79 MX$1,493
-3.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132 A$202
$88.4 MX$1,671
49.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lake Macquarie
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,240 A$1,900
$965 MX$18.3K
28.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$976 A$1,495
$474 MX$8,968
105.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,007 A$3,074
$1,653 MX$31.2K
21.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,055 A$3,148
$1,202 MX$22.7K
70.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,582 A$8,552
$3,081 MX$58.3K
81.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,951 A$7,584
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-34.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lake Macquarie
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,783 A$7,327
$792 MX$15K
504.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.35
11.42
-61.91%

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

Last update for Lake Macquarie: October 29, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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