πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $203 in Lelydorp versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $404 in Lelydorp versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $606 in Lelydorp versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
πLiving in Lelydorp costs roughly 84% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Lelydorp85% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Lelydorp
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.98SRDΒ 185
$11.87MX$204
-58.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.32SRDΒ 1,313
$42.90MX$736
-17.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.86SRDΒ 218
$10.65MX$183
-44.98%
Cappuccino
-
$3.45MX$59.2
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23SRDΒ 45.59
$1.50MX$25.81
-18.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47SRDΒ 17.55
$0.95MX$16.28
-50.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.98SRDΒ 73.8
$3.03MX$51.9
-34.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08SRDΒ 114
$4.61MX$79.1
-33.19%
π Groceries & Markets
Lelydorp
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22SRDΒ 45.30
$1.38MX$23.61
-11.59%
White Bread(500g)
$1.02SRDΒ 38.05
$1.85MX$31.70
-44.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.22SRDΒ 45.38
$1.61MX$27.65
-24.22%
Eggs
$2.78SRDΒ 104
$2.59MX$44.51
7.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$8.26MX$142
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.89SRDΒ 144
$8.37MX$144
-53.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.95SRDΒ 296
$10.66MX$183
-25.42%
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.63MX$45.12
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.53SRDΒ 56.8
$1.49MX$25.53
2.68%
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.92MX$32.94
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.09MX$35.81
-
Potato(1kg)
$0.98SRDΒ 36.28
$1.86MX$31.88
-47.31%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97SRDΒ 36.23
$2.26MX$38.81
-57.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.06MX$18.23
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82SRDΒ 30.61
$1.09MX$18.67
-24.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.15MX$71.2
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.39MX$178
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04SRDΒ 75.9
$1.72MX$29.59
18.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.61MX$44.85
-
π Getting Around
Lelydorp
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.49SRDΒ 18.21
$0.54MX$9.30
-9.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.94MX$462
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.13MX$53.7
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.51MX$43.09
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.15MX$54.1
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.93SRDΒ 34.54
$1.27MX$21.88
-26.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$30.4KMX$521.3K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.6KMX$404.5K
-
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lelydorp
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$83.0MX$1,425
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$22.71MX$390
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$29.46MX$506
-
π Sport & Entertainment
Lelydorp
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$51.0MX$875
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.33MX$315
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.93MX$84.5
-
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Lelydorp
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$197MX$3,386
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,280MX$90.6K
-
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Lelydorp
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$36.90MX$633
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$39.89MX$685
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$80.0MX$1,373
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$89.5MX$1,536
-
π Accommodation & Living
Lelydorp
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$956MX$16.4K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$477MX$8,189
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,646MX$28.3K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,225MX$21.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,918MX$67.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,459MX$110.9K
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Lelydorp
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$302SRDΒ 11.2K
$667MX$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 β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lelydorp: June 8, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π°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.
πDining 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 β 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 β 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 β 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 β 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.