Cost of Living Comparison Between Lake Worth, FL and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Lake Worth, FL and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,648 in Lake Worth, FL versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,843 in Lake Worth, FL versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,038 in Lake Worth, FL versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Lake Worth, FL is roughly 106% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lake Worth, FL is 98% above, Playa del Carmen is 4% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lake Worth, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.90 $24.90
$11.94 MX$208
108.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.2 $74.2
$42.75 MX$744
73.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.62 $9.62
$10.59 MX$184
-9.16%
Cappuccino
$5.21 $5.21
$3.62 MX$63.0
43.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.47 MX$25.54
89.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$0.94 MX$16.41
107.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.85 $5.85
$3.09 MX$53.8
89.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.09 $8.09
$4.46 MX$77.6
81.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lake Worth, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.43 MX$24.80
-25.87%
White Bread (500g)
$2.86 $2.86
$1.88 MX$32.79
52.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.82 $2.82
$1.63 MX$28.34
73.01%
Eggs
$4.50 $4.50
$2.64 MX$45.99
70.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.77 $12.77
$8.21 MX$143
55.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.55 $8.55
$8.29 MX$144
3.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.55 $14.55
$11.10 MX$193
31.08%
Apples (1kg)
$4.60 $4.60
$2.65 MX$46.14
73.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 $1.74
$1.50 MX$26.11
16.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.60 $3.60
$1.99 MX$34.59
80.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.03 $5.03
$2.08 MX$36.13
141.83%
Potato (1kg)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.79 MX$31.11
43.58%
Onion (1kg)
$3.47 $3.47
$2.18 MX$37.87
59.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.18 $2.18
$1.08 MX$18.73
101.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$1.04 MX$18.04
144.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.47 $8.47
$3.97 MX$69.1
113.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.97 $12.97
$10.20 MX$178
27.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.73 MX$30.04
2.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 $3.02
$2.50 MX$43.46
20.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Lake Worth, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$0.52 MX$9.02
276.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$69.2 $69.2
$26.97 MX$469
156.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.46 $2.46
$3.14 MX$54.7
-21.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.93 $1.93
$2.40 MX$41.80
-19.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.74 $29.74
$3.09 MX$53.7
862.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.27 MX$22.16
-34.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5K $33.5K
$30.9K MX$537.3K
8.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K $28.1K
$23.3K MX$405.7K
20.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lake Worth, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$180 $180
$82.0 MX$1,427
119.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.54 $46.54
$22.45 MX$391
107.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.8 $60.8
$29.66 MX$516
105.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lake Worth, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.78 $43.78
$51.9 MX$903
-15.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.67 MX$325
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.59 $12.59
$4.97 MX$86.5
153.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lake Worth, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$914 $914
$198 MX$3,442
362.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K $23.3K
$5,273 MX$91.7K
342.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lake Worth, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$36.34 MX$632
45.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.40 $33.40
$40.05 MX$697
-16.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.2 $92.2
$79.9 MX$1,390
15.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 $107
$88.9 MX$1,547
20.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lake Worth, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 $1,608
$963 MX$16.8K
66.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,362 $1,362
$465 MX$8,086
193.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,633 $2,633
$1,596 MX$27.8K
64.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,211 $2,211
$1,209 MX$21.0K
82.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,914 $2,914
$3,942 MX$68.6K
-26.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,555 $2,555
$6,448 MX$112.2K
-60.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lake Worth, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,608 $7,608
$720 MX$12.5K
956.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.53
11.42
-42.82%

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

Last update for Lake Worth, FL: April 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,608 in Lake Worth, FL and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lake Worth, FL pays 956% 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: $74.0 in Lake Worth, FL vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $361 vs $251 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, Getting Around. The 106% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lake Worth, FL or Playa del Carmen?
Lake Worth, FL pays 956% more on average, 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: $1,608 in Lake Worth, FL versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Lake Worth, FL vs Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,648 per month in Lake Worth, FL versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – a 106% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 157% less than in Lake Worth, FL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Lake Worth, FL or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,648 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 106% 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

Similar cities