Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Laos and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Laos: $1,157 a month against $1,215 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $700 less a year. The total is higher in Playa del Carmen despite lower rent and utilities.

56

Cost of Living Index in Laos
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Laos Living Index
60

Cost of Living Index in Playa del Carmen
Learn more

Playa del Carmen Living Index

Jump to prices

🇱🇦 Laos

$1,157

/mo nomad

Playa del Carmen

🇲🇽 Mexico

$1,215

/mo nomad

🙂 Solo nomad: Laos is 31.5% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 4.8% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Laos is 28.7% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 22.2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.19 LAK 48.8K

$10.97 MX$201

-80.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.04 LAK 402.4K

$44.85 MX$823

-59.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.28 LAK 117.7K

$11.92 MX$219

-55.70%

Cappuccino

$1.78 LAK 39.7K

$3.80 MX$69.9

-53.16%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 LAK 17.1K

$1.31 MX$24.08

-41.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 LAK 9,154

$0.86 MX$15.72

-52.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.29 LAK 28.8K

$3.21 MX$59.0

-59.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 LAK 40.6K

$5.01 MX$92.0

-63.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 LAK 44.6K

$1.46 MX$26.77

36.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 LAK 24.7K

$2.33 MX$42.72

-52.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 LAK 23.3K

$1.44 MX$26.48

-27.78%

Eggs

$1.91 LAK 42.7K

$2.46 MX$45.20

-22.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$23.53 LAK 524.7K

$7.70 MX$141

205.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.16 LAK 137.4K

$7.89 MX$145

-21.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.76 LAK 150.8K

$12.80 MX$235

-47.19%

Apples (1kg)

$1.75 LAK 38.9K

$2.92 MX$53.6

-40.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 LAK 25.7K

$1.42 MX$26.11

-19.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.55 LAK 56.8K

$2.57 MX$47.10

-0.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 LAK 33.4K

$2.14 MX$39.24

-29.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.49 LAK 33.3K

$1.95 MX$35.75

-23.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 LAK 24.8K

$1.94 MX$35.55

-42.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 LAK 23.9K

$1.15 MX$21.13

-6.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 LAK 11.5K

$1.22 MX$22.42

-57.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.73 LAK 38.6K

$4.38 MX$80.3

-60.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.04 LAK 223.8K

$9.85 MX$181

1.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 LAK 24.9K

$1.54 MX$28.23

-27.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 LAK 39.7K

$2.72 MX$49.86

-34.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 LAK 10.9K

$0.52 MX$9.64

-5.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.9 LAK 1.3M

$27.42 MX$503

107.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.24 LAK 27.7K

$4.91 MX$90.2

-74.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 LAK 21.9K

$3.52 MX$64.7

-72.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.50 LAK 100.3K

$5.69 MX$104

-20.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 LAK 32.6K

$1.54 MX$28.27

-5.19%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.3K LAK 630.4M

$21.2K MX$389.9K

33.10%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.3K LAK 630.8M

$24.5K MX$449.6K

15.51%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$88.7 LAK 2.0M

$83.6 MX$1,535

6.09%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$19.97 LAK 445.4K

$24.03 MX$441

-16.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.96 LAK 244.5K

$29.33 MX$539

-62.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.9 LAK 1.2M

$64.9 MX$1,191

-13.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.53 LAK 167.8K

$29.46 MX$541

-74.44%

Cinema Ticket

$3.29 LAK 73.4K

$5.09 MX$93.4

-35.36%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$326 LAK 7.3M

$208 MX$3,813

56.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K LAK 233.2M

$4,045 MX$74.3K

158.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.8 LAK 1.1M

$44.55 MX$818

14.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.2 LAK 1.4M

$42.06 MX$772

50.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.4 LAK 1.6M

$75.5 MX$1,387

-2.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.5 LAK 1.2M

$91.4 MX$1,678

-42.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$807 LAK 18.0M

$986 MX$18.1K

-18.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$487 LAK 10.9M

$385 MX$7,072

26.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,531 LAK 34.1M

$1,713 MX$31.5K

-10.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$953 LAK 21.3M

$1,108 MX$20.4K

-13.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,554 LAK 57.0M

$4,016 MX$73.7K

-36.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$883 LAK 19.7M

$6,247 MX$114.7K

-85.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$484 LAK 10.8M

$758 MX$13.9K

-36.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.06

11.45

-12.14%

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

Last update for Laos: October 6, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Laos

$487 42.1%

Playa del Carmen

$385 31.4% 20.8% $101

Groceries & Markets

Laos

$244 21.2%

Playa del Carmen

$260 21.2% 6.5% $16

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Laos

$120 10.4%

Playa del Carmen

$137 11.2% 14.5% $17

Clothing & Footwear

Laos

$108 9.3%

Playa del Carmen

$114 9.3% 5.7% $6.1

Eating Out

Laos

$70 6%

Playa del Carmen

$204 16.6% 193% $134

Getting Around

Laos

$65 5.6%

Playa del Carmen

$52 4.2% 19.9% $13

Sport & Entertainment

Laos

$62 5.4%

Playa del Carmen

$75 6.1% 20.1% $13

Good to know

🇱🇦 Laos

🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen

🕒 Local time

10:32 10:32 AM

22:32 10:32 PM

12 h behind Laos

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

6,858,160

149,923

💱 Currency

Lao Kip LAK ₭

Mexican Peso MXN $

📈 Exchange rate

100,000 LAK = 4.48 USD

100,000 LAK = 4 EUR

100 MXN = 5.45 USD

100 MXN = 4.86 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to LAK – Lao Kip Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇱🇦 Lao Kip (₭)

Lao Kip exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 22,300 LAK (100,000 LAK = 4.48 USD). 1 EUR = 25,011 LAK (100,000 LAK = 4 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 18.36 MXN (100 MXN = 5.45 USD). 1 EUR = 20.59 MXN (100 MXN = 4.86 EUR).

USD to LAK in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Laos Playa del Carmen 15,600 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight

From you

Laos
Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Laos vs other spots: cost of living compared

Cost of Living Comparison Between Laos and Playa del Carmen

MXN, USD, EUR to LAK – Lao Kip Converter

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

Laos

Playa del Carmen

Laos

Playa del Carmen

Laos vs other spots: cost of living compared

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