🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,059 in Lehliu Gara versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,623 in Lehliu Gara versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,187 in Lehliu Gara versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Lehliu Gara costs roughly 16% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Lehliu Gara20% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lehliu Gara
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.30RON 51.6
$11.72MX$204
-3.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.02RON 210
$41.89MX$731
9.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.91RON 36.13
$10.51MX$183
-24.74%
Cappuccino
$2.66RON 12.17
$3.59MX$62.5
-25.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19RON 9.99
$1.51MX$26.31
45.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88RON 8.61
$0.92MX$15.96
104.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.34RON 10.69
$2.96MX$51.6
-20.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40RON 15.52
$4.41MX$76.9
-22.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lehliu Gara
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32RON 6.03
$1.40MX$24.35
-5.71%
White Bread(500g)
$0.82RON 3.76
$1.88MX$32.87
-56.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.93RON 8.82
$1.56MX$27.19
23.72%
Eggs
$3.64RON 16.60
$2.61MX$45.50
39.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.61RON 39.32
$8.32MX$145
3.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.33RON 28.90
$8.35MX$146
-24.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.28RON 42.38
$10.86MX$189
-14.55%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21RON 5.52
$2.71MX$47.31
-55.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71RON 7.82
$1.51MX$26.25
13.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65RON 7.54
$1.87MX$32.67
-11.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.89RON 8.65
$2.19MX$38.19
-13.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.06RON 4.86
$1.86MX$32.40
-43.01%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16RON 5.27
$2.23MX$38.90
-47.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.91RON 4.14
$1.07MX$18.63
-14.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78RON 3.56
$1.09MX$18.94
-28.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.93RON 27.07
$4.19MX$73.0
41.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.39RON 24.62
$10.43MX$182
-48.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93RON 4.23
$1.66MX$28.91
-43.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29RON 5.90
$2.61MX$45.56
-50.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Lehliu Gara
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67RON 3.08
$0.54MX$9.45
24.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.07RON 91.7
$26.16MX$456
-23.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.69RON 3.14
$3.08MX$53.7
-77.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.87RON 3.95
$2.40MX$41.94
-63.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66RON 34.97
$3.13MX$54.5
144.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54RON 7.05
$1.31MX$22.87
17.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9KRON 127.5K
$29.8KMX$519.9K
-6.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3KRON 120.0K
$23.3KMX$406.8K
12.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lehliu Gara
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$162RON 742
$81.3MX$1,418
99.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.42RON 38.45
$22.56MX$393
-62.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.66RON 39.54
$30.05MX$524
-71.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lehliu Gara
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.87RON 191
$52.9MX$923
-20.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.03RON 86.9
$18.39MX$321
3.48%
Cinema Ticket
$6.63RON 30.28
$4.92MX$85.8
34.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lehliu Gara
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$662RON 3,025
$201MX$3,502
229.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,495RON 25.1K
$5,175MX$90.2K
6.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lehliu Gara
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.3RON 454
$35.92MX$627
176.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.52RON 162
$40.13MX$700
-11.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.8RON 287
$79.7MX$1,390
-21.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.6RON 446
$86.5MX$1,508
12.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lehliu Gara
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$381RON 1,741
$978MX$17.1K
-61.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$291RON 1,330
$470MX$8,206
-38.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$579RON 2,642
$1,651MX$28.8K
-64.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$439RON 2,006
$1,203MX$21.0K
-63.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,076RON 9,481
$3,953MX$69.0K
-47.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,371RON 6,262
$6,607MX$115.2K
-79.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lehliu Gara
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$677MX$11.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.5
11.42
-43.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lehliu Gara: July 25, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $381 in Lehliu Gara and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Lehliu Gara vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $198 vs $252, with Lehliu Gara cheaper for home cooking.
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
Lehliu Gara vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Lehliu Gara?
Lehliu Gara is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,589 in Lehliu Gara and $1,890 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.
What is the rent difference between Lehliu Gara and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $381 in Lehliu Gara versus $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $662 in Lehliu Gara versus $201 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Lehliu Gara and in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 27% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Lehliu Gara or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,059 in Lehliu Gara versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Lehliu Gara but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Lehliu Gara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lehliu Gara or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Lehliu Gara is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lehliu Gara or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Lehliu Gara 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 Lehliu Gara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Lehliu Gara vs other spots: cost of living compared