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 $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $400 in Lelydorp versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $603 in Lelydorp versus $2,990 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.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.85 SRD 182

$11.72 MX$203

-58.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.50 SRD 1,334

$41.89 MX$725

-15.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.04 SRD 227

$10.51 MX$182

-42.53%

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.0

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

$1.29 SRD 48.36

$1.51 MX$26.10

-14.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 SRD 16.14

$0.92 MX$15.83

-53.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 SRD 75.8

$2.96 MX$51.2

-31.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 SRD 115

$4.41 MX$76.3

-30.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 SRD 44.73

$1.40 MX$24.16

-15.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 SRD 36.73

$1.88 MX$32.60

-47.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 SRD 46.26

$1.56 MX$26.97

-21.15%

Eggs

$2.73 SRD 103

$2.61 MX$45.14

4.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 MX$144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.03 SRD 151

$8.35 MX$145

-51.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.05 SRD 303

$10.86 MX$188

-25.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 MX$46.93

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 SRD 55.5

$1.51 MX$26.04

-1.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.41

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.89

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 SRD 36.79

$1.86 MX$32.14

-47.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 SRD 38.64

$2.23 MX$38.59

-53.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.48

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 SRD 33.11

$1.09 MX$18.79

-19.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.4

Wine (Bottle)

$10.43 MX$180

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 SRD 76.1

$1.66 MX$28.68

21.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$45.19

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 SRD 18.40

$0.54 MX$9.37

-9.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 MX$53.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.61

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 SRD 35.46

$1.31 MX$22.69

-28.24%

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

$29.8K MX$515.7K

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

$23.3K MX$403.5K

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

$81.3 MX$1,406

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

$22.56 MX$390

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.05 MX$520

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$915

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MX$85.1

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

$201 MX$3,474

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$89.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.92 MX$622

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.13 MX$694

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 MX$1,379

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,496

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$978 MX$16.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MX$8,140

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 MX$28.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 MX$20.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$302 SRD 11.4K

$677 MX$11.7K

-55.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

48.86%

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

Last update for Lelydorp: July 25, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Playa del Carmen pays 124% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $116 vs $252 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 543% 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 124% 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 $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – a 543% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 116% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $196 in Lelydorp versus $1,260 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 543% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.