😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,473 in Lebanon, OH versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,508 in Lebanon, OH versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,543 in Lebanon, OH versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Lebanon, OH is roughly 95% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lebanon, OH is 81% above, Playa del Carmen is 7% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lebanon, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.90$12.90
$11.60MX$200
11.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.6$50.6
$47.11MX$811
7.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.95$8.95
$11.88MX$205
-24.66%
Cappuccino
$5.17$5.17
$3.98MX$68.5
29.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99$1.99
$1.43MX$24.57
39.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01$1.01
$0.82MX$14.20
23.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.96$4.96
$3.19MX$54.9
55.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.95$5.95
$6.79MX$117
-12.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lebanon, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.78$0.78
$1.68MX$28.85
-53.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.41$1.41
$2.20MX$37.83
-35.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.93$3.93
$1.71MX$29.41
129.82%
Eggs
$1.96$1.96
$2.74MX$47.20
-28.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.50$10.50
$9.58MX$165
9.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.08$10.08
$9.01MX$155
11.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.18$14.18
$12.81MX$221
10.69%
Apples(1kg)
$5.52$5.52
$2.89MX$49.74
91.00%
Banana(1kg)
$0.94$0.94
$1.50MX$25.78
-37.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.49$5.49
$2.15MX$36.98
155.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.31$4.31
$2.26MX$38.91
90.71%
Potato(1kg)
$4.17$4.17
$1.98MX$34.10
110.61%
Onion(1kg)
$3.10$3.10
$1.99MX$34.26
55.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.15$2.15
$1.23MX$21.25
74.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.03$3.03
$1.20MX$20.60
152.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.75$8.75
$4.55MX$78.3
92.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.07$13.07
$10.37MX$179
26.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80$2.80
$1.62MX$27.88
72.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.18$4.18
$2.88MX$49.60
45.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Lebanon, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.06$2.06
$0.60MX$10.34
243.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.80MX$496
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.05$5.05
$5.39MX$92.8
-6.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.66$1.66
$3.73MX$64.2
-55.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.15$26.15
$5.77MX$99.3
353.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.91$0.91
$1.54MX$26.45
-40.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.2K$36.2K
$22.5KMX$388.3K
60.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K$25.1K
$26.1KMX$448.7K
-3.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lebanon, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$190$190
$91.4MX$1,573
107.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$108$108
$25.20MX$434
327.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.6$55.6
$31.24MX$538
78.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lebanon, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.45$41.45
$67.2MX$1,157
-38.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11MX$501
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.93$11.93
$4.86MX$83.7
145.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lebanon, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,680$1,680
$224MX$3,851
651.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.8K$24.8K
$4,229MX$72.8K
486.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lebanon, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.41$49.41
$47.10MX$811
4.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.86$31.86
$44.29MX$763
-28.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$65.2$65.2
$80.1MX$1,379
-18.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156$156
$92.7MX$1,596
68.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lebanon, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,580$1,580
$1,063MX$18.3K
48.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,281$1,281
$390MX$6,719
228.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,469$2,469
$2,149MX$37.0K
14.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,953$1,953
$1,272MX$21.9K
53.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,680$2,680
$4,001MX$68.9K
-33.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,156$2,156
$6,502MX$112.0K
-66.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lebanon, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$758MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.18
11.45
-46.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lebanon, OH: September 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,580 in Lebanon, OH and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $51.0 in Lebanon, OH vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $359 vs $276 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
Lebanon, OH vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lebanon, OH and in Playa del Carmen?
Lebanon, OH and Playa del Carmen differ by about 95% in total monthly costs ($2,473 vs $1,266 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lebanon, OH compared to Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $3,710 in Lebanon, OH and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Lebanon, OH and in Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,580 in Lebanon, OH versus $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 30% higher in Lebanon, OH. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lebanon, OH or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,473 per month in Lebanon, OH versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen – a 95% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,473 in Lebanon, OH, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Lebanon, OH. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lebanon, OH and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lebanon, OH or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lebanon, OH and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lebanon, OH or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 95% less than in Lebanon, OH. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Lebanon, OH vs other spots: cost of living compared