🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,058 in Lehliu Gara versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,604 in Lehliu Gara versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,150 in Lehliu Gara versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Lehliu Gara costs roughly 18% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Lehliu Gara21% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lehliu Gara
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.63RON 50.6
$11.94MX$208
-2.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.50RON 198
$42.75MX$744
6.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.26RON 35.93
$10.59MX$184
-22.00%
Cappuccino
$2.62RON 11.41
$3.62MX$63.0
-27.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10RON 9.13
$1.47MX$25.54
42.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86RON 8.08
$0.94MX$16.41
97.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24RON 9.75
$3.09MX$53.8
-27.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37RON 14.65
$4.46MX$77.6
-24.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lehliu Gara
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33RON 5.79
$1.43MX$24.80
-6.99%
White Bread(500g)
$0.83RON 3.62
$1.88MX$32.79
-55.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.93RON 8.39
$1.63MX$28.34
18.40%
Eggs
$3.76RON 16.34
$2.64MX$45.99
42.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.38RON 36.47
$8.21MX$143
2.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.16RON 26.77
$8.29MX$144
-25.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.32RON 40.54
$11.10MX$193
-16.04%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22RON 5.29
$2.65MX$46.14
-53.96%
Banana(1kg)
$1.67RON 7.26
$1.50MX$26.11
11.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.72RON 7.47
$1.99MX$34.59
-13.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.91RON 8.30
$2.08MX$36.13
-8.17%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03RON 4.47
$1.79MX$31.11
-42.46%
Onion(1kg)
$1.10RON 4.80
$2.18MX$37.87
-49.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.94RON 4.10
$1.08MX$18.73
-12.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75RON 3.25
$1.04MX$18.04
-27.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.82RON 25.33
$3.97MX$69.1
46.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.80RON 25.23
$10.20MX$178
-43.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.88RON 3.82
$1.73MX$30.04
-49.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30RON 5.67
$2.50MX$43.46
-48.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Lehliu Gara
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.66RON 2.86
$0.52MX$9.02
26.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.18RON 87.8
$26.97MX$469
-25.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.73RON 3.17
$3.14MX$54.7
-76.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.89RON 3.86
$2.40MX$41.80
-62.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.39RON 32.13
$3.09MX$53.7
139.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55RON 6.72
$1.27MX$22.16
22.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5KRON 124.0K
$30.9KMX$537.3K
-7.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KRON 113.5K
$23.3KMX$405.7K
11.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lehliu Gara
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$165RON 718
$82.0MX$1,427
101.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.54RON 37.14
$22.45MX$391
-61.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.39RON 36.50
$29.66MX$516
-71.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lehliu Gara
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.11RON 183
$51.9MX$903
-18.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.11RON 83.1
$18.67MX$325
2.36%
Cinema Ticket
$6.77RON 29.46
$4.97MX$86.5
36.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lehliu Gara
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$659RON 2,867
$198MX$3,442
233.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,477RON 23.8K
$5,273MX$91.7K
3.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lehliu Gara
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101RON 438
$36.34MX$632
176.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.35RON 154
$40.05MX$697
-11.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.4RON 280
$79.9MX$1,390
-19.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.2RON 419
$88.9MX$1,547
8.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lehliu Gara
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$383RON 1,664
$963MX$16.8K
-60.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$293RON 1,273
$465MX$8,086
-37.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$579RON 2,517
$1,596MX$27.8K
-63.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$439RON 1,910
$1,209MX$21.0K
-63.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,852RON 8,054
$3,942MX$68.6K
-53.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,292RON 5,621
$6,448MX$112.2K
-79.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lehliu Gara
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$720MX$12.5K
-
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: April 25, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $383 in Lehliu Gara and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Lehliu Gara vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $197 vs $251, 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 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,587 in Lehliu Gara and $1,930 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: $383 in Lehliu Gara versus $963 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 $659 in Lehliu Gara versus $198 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 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 Lehliu Gara or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,058 in Lehliu Gara versus $1,287 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 22% 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