Cost of Living Comparison Between Lawrence, KS and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Lawrence, KS and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,092 per month in Lawrence, KS vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,352 per month in Lawrence, KS vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,611 per month in Lawrence, KS vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Lawrence, KS costs about 63% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Lawrence, KS sits 56% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.94 $14.94

$11.94 MX$209

25.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.0 $75.0

$42.75 MX$748

75.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.06 $10.06

$10.59 MX$185

-5.00%

Cappuccino

$5.25 $5.25

$3.62 MX$63.4

45.03%

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

$3.09 $3.09

$1.47 MX$25.69

110.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$0.94 MX$16.51

105.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.93 $4.93

$3.09 MX$54.1

59.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.93 $6.93

$4.46 MX$78.0

55.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.43 MX$24.94

-41.96%

White Bread (500g)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.88 MX$32.97

32.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$1.63 MX$28.50

169.94%

Eggs

$3.34 $3.34

$2.64 MX$46.26

26.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.72 $11.72

$8.21 MX$144

42.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$8.29 MX$145

30.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.67 $15.67

$11.10 MX$194

41.17%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$2.65 MX$46.40

131.70%

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.50 MX$26.26

48.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$1.99 MX$34.79

140.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.76 $3.76

$2.08 MX$36.33

80.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.79 MX$31.29

-1.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.18 MX$38.09

23.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.08 MX$18.84

41.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.04 MX$18.15

136.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.05 $8.05

$3.97 MX$69.5

102.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.02 $13.02

$10.20 MX$179

27.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.73 MX$30.22

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 $1.66

$2.50 MX$43.71

-33.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.52 MX$9.07

-7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.55 $24.55

$26.97 MX$472

-8.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.14 MX$55.0

-3.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.33 $1.33

$2.40 MX$42.04

-44.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$3.09 MX$54.0

720.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.27 MX$22.28

-36.22%

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

$35.6K $35.6K

$30.9K MX$540.4K

15.23%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$23.3K MX$408.0K

15.40%

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

$328 $328

$82.0 MX$1,435

300.22%

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

$51.9 $51.9

$22.45 MX$393

131.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.7 $65.7

$29.66 MX$519

121.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.08 $45.08

$51.9 MX$908

-13.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.80 $11.80

$18.67 MX$327

-36.80%

Cinema Ticket

$12.22 $12.22

$4.97 MX$87.0

145.88%

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

$922 $922

$198 MX$3,462

366.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.8K $24.8K

$5,273 MX$92.3K

370.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.6 $53.6

$36.34 MX$636

47.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.06 $35.06

$40.05 MX$701

-12.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 $96.0

$79.9 MX$1,398

20.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.1 $89.1

$88.9 MX$1,555

0.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$938 $938

$963 MX$16.9K

-2.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$803 $803

$465 MX$8,133

72.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,594 $1,594

$1,596 MX$27.9K

-0.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,807 $1,807

$1,209 MX$21.2K

49.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,413 $2,413

$3,942 MX$69.0K

-38.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,074 $2,074

$6,448 MX$112.8K

-67.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,796 $3,796

$720 MX$12.6K

426.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

11.42

-43.52%

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

Last update for Lawrence, KS: April 28, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $938 in Lawrence, KS versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 427% higher in Lawrence, KS, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Lawrence, KS versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $367 vs $251 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Lawrence, KS vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lawrence, KS costs about 63% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,138 per month in Lawrence, KS and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 46% more in Lawrence, KS, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Lawrence, KS and $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Lawrence, KS at $2,092. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lawrence, KS it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,287 versus $2,092 in Lawrence, KS. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lawrence, KS makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.