🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,048 in Lehliu Gara versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,597 in Lehliu Gara versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,145 in Lehliu Gara versus $2,980 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 Gara22% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lehliu Gara
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.55RON 52.3
$11.87MX$204
-2.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.85RON 212
$42.90MX$736
9.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.93RON 35.85
$10.65MX$183
-25.54%
Cappuccino
$2.62RON 11.83
$3.45MX$59.2
-24.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21RON 10.01
$1.50MX$25.81
47.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91RON 8.66
$0.95MX$16.28
101.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.32RON 10.51
$3.03MX$51.9
-23.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29RON 14.88
$4.61MX$79.1
-28.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lehliu Gara
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38RON 6.23
$1.38MX$23.61
-
White Bread(500g)
$0.83RON 3.77
$1.85MX$31.70
-55.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85RON 8.36
$1.61MX$27.65
14.91%
Eggs
$3.66RON 16.55
$2.59MX$44.51
41.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21RON 37.15
$8.26MX$142
-0.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.31RON 28.54
$8.37MX$144
-24.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.33RON 42.21
$10.66MX$183
-12.48%
Apples(1kg)
$1.26RON 5.69
$2.63MX$45.12
-52.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71RON 7.73
$1.49MX$25.53
14.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65RON 7.48
$1.92MX$32.94
-14.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.89RON 8.56
$2.09MX$35.81
-9.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.06RON 4.81
$1.86MX$31.88
-43.01%
Onion(1kg)
$1.10RON 4.98
$2.26MX$38.81
-51.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88RON 3.96
$1.06MX$18.23
-16.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75RON 3.38
$1.09MX$18.67
-31.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.79RON 26.20
$4.15MX$71.2
39.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.36RON 24.24
$10.39MX$178
-48.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94RON 4.24
$1.72MX$29.59
-45.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29RON 5.83
$2.61MX$44.85
-50.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Lehliu Gara
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.72RON 3.24
$0.54MX$9.30
33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.05RON 90.7
$26.94MX$462
-25.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.72RON 3.27
$3.13MX$53.7
-77.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.83RON 3.77
$2.51MX$43.09
-66.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.65RON 34.61
$3.15MX$54.1
142.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54RON 6.99
$1.27MX$21.88
21.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KRON 128.0K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
-6.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KRON 117.1K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
9.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lehliu Gara
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$165RON 747
$83.0MX$1,425
98.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.17RON 36.95
$22.71MX$390
-64.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.86RON 40.06
$29.46MX$506
-69.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lehliu Gara
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.91RON 190
$51.0MX$875
-17.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.26RON 87.1
$18.33MX$315
5.07%
Cinema Ticket
$6.74RON 30.50
$4.93MX$84.5
36.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lehliu Gara
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$653RON 2,954
$197MX$3,386
230.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,511RON 24.9K
$5,280MX$90.6K
4.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lehliu Gara
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101RON 455
$36.90MX$633
172.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.72RON 162
$39.89MX$685
-10.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.7RON 283
$80.0MX$1,373
-21.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.4RON 440
$89.5MX$1,536
8.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lehliu Gara
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$388RON 1,757
$956MX$16.4K
-59.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$292RON 1,321
$477MX$8,189
-38.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$596RON 2,697
$1,646MX$28.3K
-63.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$440RON 1,992
$1,225MX$21.0K
-64.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,821RON 8,238
$3,918MX$67.2K
-53.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,274RON 5,763
$6,459MX$110.9K
-80.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lehliu Gara
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$667MX$11.4K
-
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: June 9, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $388 in Lehliu Gara and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Lehliu Gara vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $197 vs $250, 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 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,572 in Lehliu Gara and $1,906 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: $388 in Lehliu Gara versus $956 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 $653 in Lehliu Gara versus $197 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 $1,048 in Lehliu Gara versus $1,271 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 21% 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