🙂A single person spends $415 per month in Layyah vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $641 per month in Layyah vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $866 per month in Layyah vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Layyah is about 68% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Layyah and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Layyah70% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Layyah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.82PKR 505
$11.71MX$198
-84.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.95PKR 3,039
$46.59MX$788
-76.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.42PKR 1,502
$11.65MX$197
-53.48%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.58PKR 717
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19PKR 606
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.45PKR 402
$4.09MX$69.2
-64.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43PKR 119
$1.37MX$23.23
-68.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32PKR 89.1
$0.83MX$14.09
-61.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.35MX$56.7
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$6.91MX$117
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Layyah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.84PKR 234
$1.73MX$29.20
-51.45%
White Bread(500g)
$0.65PKR 180
$2.26MX$38.21
-71.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.22PKR 337
$1.77MX$29.91
-31.07%
Eggs
$1.24PKR 345
$2.73MX$46.19
-54.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.63PKR 2,395
$9.18MX$155
-5.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.65PKR 734
$8.92MX$151
-70.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.89PKR 1,079
$12.60MX$213
-69.13%
Apples(1kg)
$1.04PKR 289
$3.02MX$51.1
-65.56%
Banana(1kg)
$0.63PKR 174
$1.57MX$26.55
-59.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.57PKR 159
$2.13MX$35.93
-73.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.50PKR 139
$2.26MX$38.28
-77.88%
Potato(1kg)
$0.29PKR 80.1
$2.00MX$33.88
-85.50%
Onion(1kg)
$0.53PKR 147
$2.06MX$34.90
-74.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.49PKR 137
$1.18MX$19.94
-58.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40PKR 110
$1.20MX$20.35
-66.67%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.57PKR 157
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.56PKR 155
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70PKR 193
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.36PKR 655
$4.63MX$78.4
-49.03%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.69MX$181
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.62MX$27.38
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.88MX$48.70
-
🚌 Getting Around
Layyah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.21PKR 57.3
$0.57MX$9.69
-63.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.52PKR 2,918
$29.83MX$504
-64.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.10PKR 306
$5.45MX$92.1
-79.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.09PKR 303
$3.70MX$62.6
-70.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.83PKR 786
$5.98MX$101
-52.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15PKR 320
$1.55MX$26.26
-25.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2KPKR 6.4M
$22.3KMX$377.4K
3.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0KPKR 6.4M
$25.9KMX$438.7K
-11.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Layyah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.7PKR 18.5K
$89.1MX$1,507
-25.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.43PKR 1,507
$25.04MX$423
-78.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.91PKR 3,303
$31.50MX$532
-62.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Layyah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.43PKR 4,280
$67.8MX$1,146
-77.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.92MX$489
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.30PKR 2,025
$5.05MX$85.4
44.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Layyah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$26.60PKR 7,379
$225MX$3,803
-88.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,050PKR 568.6K
$4,222MX$71.4K
-51.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Layyah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.78PKR 5,211
$47.44MX$802
-60.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.13PKR 7,249
$44.98MX$760
-41.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$53.6PKR 14.9K
$82.0MX$1,386
-34.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.20PKR 8,100
$92.1MX$1,557
-68.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Layyah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$126PKR 34.9K
$1,069MX$18.1K
-88.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$68.2PKR 18.9K
$405MX$6,852
-83.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$268PKR 74.4K
$1,935MX$32.7K
-86.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$165PKR 45.9K
$1,301MX$22.0K
-87.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$897PKR 248.7K
$3,995MX$67.5K
-77.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$469PKR 130.1K
$6,626MX$112.0K
-92.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Layyah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$749MX$12.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.83
11.45
3.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Layyah: August 29, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $126 in Layyah versus $1,069 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Layyah versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $98.0 vs $277 – making Layyah 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
Layyah vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Layyah?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 212%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $622 per month in Layyah and $1,940 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Layyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Layyah or in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Layyah and $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Layyah and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $415 in Layyah and $1,293 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Layyah or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Layyah, where all-in costs run around $415, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Layyah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Layyah or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Layyah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Layyah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.