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: $203 in Lelydorp versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $404 in Lelydorp versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $606 in Lelydorp versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Lelydorp costs roughly 84% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lelydorp 85% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lelydorp
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.98 SRDΒ 185
$11.87 MX$204
-58.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.32 SRDΒ 1,313
$42.90 MX$736
-17.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.86 SRDΒ 218
$10.65 MX$183
-44.98%
Cappuccino
-
$3.45 MX$59.2
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 SRDΒ 45.59
$1.50 MX$25.81
-18.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 SRDΒ 17.55
$0.95 MX$16.28
-50.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.98 SRDΒ 73.8
$3.03 MX$51.9
-34.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 SRDΒ 114
$4.61 MX$79.1
-33.19%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Lelydorp
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 SRDΒ 45.30
$1.38 MX$23.61
-11.59%
White Bread (500g)
$1.02 SRDΒ 38.05
$1.85 MX$31.70
-44.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 SRDΒ 45.38
$1.61 MX$27.65
-24.22%
Eggs
$2.78 SRDΒ 104
$2.59 MX$44.51
7.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$8.26 MX$142
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.89 SRDΒ 144
$8.37 MX$144
-53.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.95 SRDΒ 296
$10.66 MX$183
-25.42%
Apples (1kg)
-
$2.63 MX$45.12
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 SRDΒ 56.8
$1.49 MX$25.53
2.68%
Oranges (1kg)
-
$1.92 MX$32.94
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$2.09 MX$35.81
-
Potato (1kg)
$0.98 SRDΒ 36.28
$1.86 MX$31.88
-47.31%
Onion (1kg)
$0.97 SRDΒ 36.23
$2.26 MX$38.81
-57.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.06 MX$18.23
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 SRDΒ 30.61
$1.09 MX$18.67
-24.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.15 MX$71.2
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$10.39 MX$178
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 SRDΒ 75.9
$1.72 MX$29.59
18.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.61 MX$44.85
-
🚌 Getting Around
Lelydorp
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.49 SRDΒ 18.21
$0.54 MX$9.30
-9.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.94 MX$462
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.13 MX$53.7
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.51 MX$43.09
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.15 MX$54.1
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.93 SRDΒ 34.54
$1.27 MX$21.88
-26.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$30.4K MX$521.3K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.6K MX$404.5K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lelydorp
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$83.0 MX$1,425
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$22.71 MX$390
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$29.46 MX$506
-
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Lelydorp
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$51.0 MX$875
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.33 MX$315
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.93 MX$84.5
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lelydorp
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$197 MX$3,386
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$5,280 MX$90.6K
-
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Lelydorp
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$36.90 MX$633
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$39.89 MX$685
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$80.0 MX$1,373
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$89.5 MX$1,536
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lelydorp
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$956 MX$16.4K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$477 MX$8,189
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,646 MX$28.3K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,225 MX$21.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,918 MX$67.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,459 MX$110.9K
-
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Lelydorp
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$302 SRDΒ 11.2K
$667 MX$11.4K
-54.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
17
11.42
48.86%

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

Last update for Lelydorp: June 8, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Playa del Carmen pays 121% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $116 vs $250 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
Which city is more expensive, Lelydorp or Playa del Carmen?
Lelydorp wins on cost – living expenses run 527% 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.
Are salaries higher in Lelydorp or Playa del Carmen?
On paper, Playa del Carmen earns 121% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does it cost to live in Lelydorp compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $203 per month in Lelydorp versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – a 527% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Are groceries more expensive in Lelydorp or Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 116% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lelydorp or Playa del Carmen?
At $203 in Lelydorp versus $1,271 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.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lelydorp or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lelydorp delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $203 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lelydorp hard to pass up.
How safe is Lelydorp compared to Playa del Carmen?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lelydorp gentler on the wallet – expenses run 527% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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