Cost of Living Comparison Between Lelydorp and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Lelydorp and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $196 in Lelydorp versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $401 in Lelydorp versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $605 in Lelydorp versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Lelydorp costs roughly 85% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lelydorp 86% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.04 SRD 190

$11.60 MX$200

-56.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.69 SRD 1,307

$47.11 MX$812

-26.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.98 SRD 225

$11.88 MX$205

-49.66%

Cappuccino

$3.98 MX$68.6

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 SRD 48.48

$1.43 MX$24.60

-9.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 SRD 17.61

$0.82 MX$14.22

-42.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 SRD 77.4

$3.19 MX$55.0

-35.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 SRD 111

$6.79 MX$117

-56.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 SRD 44.42

$1.68 MX$28.89

-29.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 SRD 38.40

$2.20 MX$37.88

-53.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 SRD 44.63

$1.71 MX$29.45

-30.99%

Eggs

$2.88 SRD 108

$2.74 MX$47.26

5.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MX$165

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 SRD 155

$9.01 MX$155

-54.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.15 SRD 307

$12.81 MX$221

-36.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 MX$49.81

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 SRD 57.3

$1.50 MX$25.81

1.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.03

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.96

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 SRD 38.07

$1.98 MX$34.15

-48.99%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 SRD 38.58

$1.99 MX$34.30

-48.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 MX$21.28

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 SRD 31.19

$1.20 MX$20.63

-30.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 MX$78.5

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 SRD 74.6

$1.62 MX$27.91

22.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.67

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 SRD 19.70

$0.60 MX$10.35

-13.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$497

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 MX$92.9

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.3

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 SRD 35.16

$1.54 MX$26.48

-39.61%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.5K MX$388.8K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.1K MX$449.3K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$91.4 MX$1,576

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.20 MX$435

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.24 MX$539

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,159

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$502

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$83.8

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$224 MX$3,856

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 MX$812

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 MX$764

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,381

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 MX$1,598

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 MX$18.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MX$6,728

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 MX$37.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 MX$21.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$302 SRD 11.4K

$758 MX$13.1K

-60.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

48.47%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lelydorp: September 14, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Playa del Carmen pays 151% 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: $35.00 in Lelydorp vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $117 vs $276 per month, with Lelydorp 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

Lelydorp vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lelydorp wins on cost – living expenses run 546% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lelydorp the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 151% lower in Playa del Carmen. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

All in, you'll spend $196 per month in Lelydorp versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen – a 546% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 135% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $196 in Lelydorp versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Lelydorp but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Lelydorp the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Lelydorp delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $196 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lelydorp hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Lelydorp 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.

Expats usually find Lelydorp gentler on the wallet – expenses run 546% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.