😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,407 in Legnica versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,061 in Legnica versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,715 in Legnica versus $3,362 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Legnica is roughly 8% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Legnica is 2% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Legnica
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.24zł 38.12
$11.96MX$203
-14.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.54zł 98.8
$47.38MX$804
-43.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.94zł 33.30
$11.75MX$199
-23.91%
Cappuccino
$3.23zł 12.04
$4.12MX$70.0
-21.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13zł 7.95
$1.40MX$23.74
52.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05zł 3.92
$0.91MX$15.48
15.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.29zł 12.25
$3.21MX$54.4
2.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13zł 15.39
$7.07MX$120
-41.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Legnica
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.93zł 3.45
$1.68MX$28.44
-44.64%
White Bread(500g)
$1.16zł 4.31
$2.15MX$36.48
-46.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.33zł 4.94
$1.77MX$30.10
-24.86%
Eggs
$3.29zł 12.26
$2.82MX$47.76
16.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.00zł 40.95
$9.20MX$156
19.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.94zł 25.84
$9.23MX$157
-24.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.67zł 28.56
$12.64MX$214
-39.32%
Apples(1kg)
$1.23zł 4.58
$2.95MX$50.1
-58.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77zł 6.60
$1.58MX$26.79
12.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.24zł 8.34
$2.22MX$37.70
0.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.09zł 11.52
$2.36MX$40.09
30.93%
Potato(1kg)
$0.90zł 3.33
$1.99MX$33.81
-54.77%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93zł 3.46
$1.98MX$33.58
-53.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08zł 4.03
$1.24MX$21.04
-12.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58zł 2.14
$1.21MX$20.55
-52.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.80zł 17.86
$4.60MX$78.1
4.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.00zł 26.05
$10.52MX$178
-33.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.77zł 2.88
$1.69MX$28.70
-54.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79zł 6.66
$2.77MX$47.06
-35.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Legnica
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.15zł 4.27
$0.60MX$10.22
91.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.25zł 183
$29.70MX$504
65.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.67zł 6.21
$5.24MX$88.8
-68.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56zł 2.08
$3.65MX$61.9
-84.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.79zł 36.45
$5.78MX$98.1
69.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.64zł 6.10
$1.54MX$26.09
6.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.5Kzł 117.3K
$22.8KMX$386.8K
38.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0Kzł 104.2K
$25.8KMX$437.9K
8.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Legnica
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$330zł 1,231
$90.7MX$1,538
264.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.19zł 34.21
$25.19MX$427
-63.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.48zł 50.2
$31.75MX$539
-57.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Legnica
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.35zł 120
$68.8MX$1,167
-52.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.99zł 85.6
$29.37MX$498
-21.72%
Cinema Ticket
$6.52zł 24.27
$4.86MX$82.5
34.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Legnica
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316zł 1,178
$226MX$3,828
40.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,281zł 34.6K
$4,194MX$71.1K
121.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Legnica
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.3zł 284
$47.38MX$804
61.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.86zł 160
$43.45MX$737
-1.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.1zł 350
$80.2MX$1,361
17.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100zł 372
$91.4MX$1,550
9.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Legnica
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$515zł 1,918
$1,086MX$18.4K
-52.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$415zł 1,545
$409MX$6,933
1.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,064zł 3,963
$1,972MX$33.5K
-46.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$874zł 3,253
$1,281MX$21.7K
-31.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,018zł 11.2K
$4,046MX$68.6K
-25.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,353zł 8,763
$6,704MX$113.7K
-64.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Legnica
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,409zł 5,247
$773MX$13.1K
82.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.87
11.45
-40.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Legnica: September 5, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $515 in Legnica and $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Legnica pays 82% 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: $27.00 in Legnica vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $278 per month, with Legnica 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
Legnica vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Legnica?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Legnica or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 82% higher in Legnica, 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 Legnica and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $515 in Legnica versus $1,086 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 Legnica and in Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,407 per month in Legnica versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen – a 8% 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 66% less than in Legnica. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Legnica or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,407 in Legnica, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Legnica. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Legnica or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Legnica, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Legnica or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Legnica 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Legnica. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.