😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Lake Worth, FL versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,838 in Lake Worth, FL versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,014 in Lake Worth, FL versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Lake Worth, FL is roughly 110% 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 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lake Worth, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.96$24.96
$11.87MX$204
110.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.5$75.5
$42.90MX$736
75.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.66$9.66
$10.65MX$183
-9.30%
Cappuccino
$5.09$5.09
$3.45MX$59.2
47.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81$2.81
$1.50MX$25.81
87.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87$1.87
$0.95MX$16.28
96.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.87$5.87
$3.03MX$51.9
93.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.78$7.78
$4.61MX$79.1
68.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lake Worth, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05$1.05
$1.38MX$23.61
-23.91%
White Bread(500g)
$2.87$2.87
$1.85MX$31.70
55.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.80$2.80
$1.61MX$27.65
73.91%
Eggs
$4.68$4.68
$2.59MX$44.51
80.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.65$12.65
$8.26MX$142
53.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43$8.43
$8.37MX$144
0.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.58$14.58
$10.66MX$183
36.77%
Apples(1kg)
$4.56$4.56
$2.63MX$45.12
73.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74$1.74
$1.49MX$25.53
16.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.64$3.64
$1.92MX$32.94
89.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.03$5.03
$2.09MX$35.81
140.67%
Potato(1kg)
$2.57$2.57
$1.86MX$31.88
38.17%
Onion(1kg)
$3.39$3.39
$2.26MX$38.81
50.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.29$2.29
$1.06MX$18.23
116.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.45$2.45
$1.09MX$18.67
124.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.39$8.39
$4.15MX$71.2
102.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.78$12.78
$10.39MX$178
23.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76$1.76
$1.72MX$29.59
2.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08$3.08
$2.61MX$44.85
18.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Lake Worth, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.99$1.99
$0.54MX$9.30
268.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$70.6$70.6
$26.94MX$462
162.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.54$2.54
$3.13MX$53.7
-18.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.88$1.88
$2.51MX$43.09
-25.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.51$29.51
$3.15MX$54.1
836.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.88$0.88
$1.27MX$21.88
-30.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0K$34.0K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
11.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K$27.1K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
15.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lake Worth, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$182$182
$83.0MX$1,425
119.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.38$46.38
$22.71MX$390
104.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.3$59.3
$29.46MX$506
101.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lake Worth, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.82$42.82
$51.0MX$875
-16.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.33MX$315
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.66$12.66
$4.93MX$84.5
156.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lake Worth, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$902$902
$197MX$3,386
357.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.7K$23.7K
$5,280MX$90.6K
349.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lake Worth, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.9$52.9
$36.90MX$633
43.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.38$34.38
$39.89MX$685
-13.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.5$94.5
$80.0MX$1,373
18.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110$110
$89.5MX$1,536
23.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lake Worth, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,611$1,611
$956MX$16.4K
68.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,349$1,349
$477MX$8,189
182.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,588$2,588
$1,646MX$28.3K
57.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,200$2,200
$1,225MX$21.0K
79.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,368$2,368
$3,918MX$67.2K
-39.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,683$2,683
$6,459MX$110.9K
-58.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lake Worth, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$7,586$7,586
$667MX$11.4K
1037.38%
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: June 9, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,611 in Lake Worth, FL and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lake Worth, FL pays 1037% 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: $75.0 in Lake Worth, FL vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $359 vs $250 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 110% 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 1037% 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: $1,611 in Lake Worth, FL versus $956 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 $2,663 per month in Lake Worth, FL versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – a 110% 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 162% 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 $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,663 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 110% 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