😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,579 in Lake Worth, FL versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,737 in Lake Worth, FL versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,895 in Lake Worth, FL versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Lake Worth, FL is roughly 104% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lake Worth, FL is 89% above, Playa del Carmen is 7% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lake Worth, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.53$25.53
$11.60MX$200
120.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.1$76.1
$47.11MX$812
61.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.86$9.86
$11.88MX$205
-17.00%
Cappuccino
$4.95$4.95
$3.98MX$68.6
24.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47$2.47
$1.43MX$24.60
72.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80$1.80
$0.82MX$14.22
119.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.29$5.29
$3.19MX$55.0
65.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.72$7.72
$6.79MX$117
13.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lake Worth, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.83$0.83
$1.68MX$28.89
-50.60%
White Bread(500g)
$3.11$3.11
$2.20MX$37.88
41.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.10$3.10
$1.71MX$29.45
81.29%
Eggs
$4.59$4.59
$2.74MX$47.26
67.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.34$13.34
$9.58MX$165
39.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.08$11.08
$9.01MX$155
22.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.83$14.83
$12.81MX$221
15.77%
Apples(1kg)
$4.62$4.62
$2.89MX$49.81
59.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51$1.51
$1.50MX$25.81
0.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.08$3.08
$2.15MX$37.03
43.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.47$5.47
$2.26MX$38.96
142.04%
Potato(1kg)
$2.92$2.92
$1.98MX$34.15
47.47%
Onion(1kg)
$3.45$3.45
$1.99MX$34.30
73.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.26$2.26
$1.23MX$21.28
83.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.56$2.56
$1.20MX$20.63
113.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.94$8.94
$4.55MX$78.5
96.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.78$12.78
$10.37MX$179
23.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75$1.75
$1.62MX$27.91
8.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26$3.26
$2.88MX$49.67
13.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Lake Worth, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.73$1.73
$0.60MX$10.35
188.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.80MX$497
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.98$2.98
$5.39MX$92.9
-44.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.84$1.84
$3.73MX$64.3
-50.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.89$28.89
$5.77MX$99.5
400.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01$1.01
$1.54MX$26.48
-34.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.5K$37.5K
$22.5KMX$388.8K
66.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K$25.7K
$26.1KMX$449.3K
-1.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lake Worth, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170$170
$91.4MX$1,576
85.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.6$61.6
$25.20MX$435
144.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.5$75.5
$31.24MX$539
141.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lake Worth, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.13$42.13
$67.2MX$1,159
-37.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11MX$502
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.06$10.06
$4.86MX$83.8
107.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lake Worth, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$902$902
$224MX$3,856
303.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$20.4K$20.4K
$4,229MX$72.9K
381.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lake Worth, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.5$67.5
$47.10MX$812
43.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.25$41.25
$44.29MX$764
-6.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115$115
$80.1MX$1,381
44.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101$101
$92.7MX$1,598
8.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lake Worth, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,735$1,735
$1,063MX$18.3K
63.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,365$1,365
$390MX$6,728
249.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,745$2,745
$2,149MX$37.1K
27.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,387$2,387
$1,272MX$21.9K
87.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,152$3,152
$4,001MX$69.0K
-21.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,738$2,738
$6,502MX$112.1K
-57.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lake Worth, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$7,603$7,603
$758MX$13.1K
902.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.06
11.45
-47.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lake Worth, FL: September 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,735 in Lake Worth, FL and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lake Worth, FL pays 903% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $76.0 in Lake Worth, FL vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $378 vs $276 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
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
Lake Worth, FL vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Lake Worth, FL?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 104% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lake Worth, FL or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 903% higher in Lake Worth, FL, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Lake Worth, FL and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,735 in Lake Worth, FL versus $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $902 in Lake Worth, FL versus $224 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Lake Worth, FL or in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $76.0 in Lake Worth, FL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Lake Worth, FL or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,579 in Lake Worth, FL, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Lake Worth, FL. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lake Worth, FL or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lake Worth, FL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 104% less than in Lake Worth, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Lake Worth, FL vs other spots: cost of living compared