😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,025 in Levanto versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,047 in Levanto versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,068 in Levanto versus $3,374 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Levanto is roughly 57% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Levanto is 47% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Levanto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.95€22.31
$11.71MX$198
121.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.4€70.9
$46.59MX$788
76.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.26€8.82
$11.65MX$197
-11.93%
Cappuccino
$1.79€1.54
$4.09MX$69.2
-56.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74€3.21
$1.37MX$23.23
172.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.52
$0.83MX$14.09
112.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.69€4.89
$3.35MX$56.7
69.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.85€5.03
$6.91MX$117
-15.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Levanto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.57€1.35
$1.73MX$29.20
-9.25%
White Bread(500g)
$3.26€2.80
$2.26MX$38.21
44.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.99€2.57
$1.77MX$29.91
68.93%
Eggs
$3.41€2.93
$2.73MX$46.19
24.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$32.29€27.76
$9.18MX$155
251.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.13€9.57
$8.92MX$151
24.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$35.16€30.23
$12.60MX$213
179.05%
Apples(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$3.02MX$51.1
-15.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$1.57MX$26.55
22.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.39€2.92
$2.13MX$35.93
59.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.40€2.93
$2.26MX$38.28
50.44%
Potato(1kg)
$2.07€1.78
$2.00MX$33.88
3.50%
Onion(1kg)
$3.17€2.73
$2.06MX$34.90
53.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.18€1.87
$1.18MX$19.94
84.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72€0.62
$1.20MX$20.35
-40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.03€6.04
$4.63MX$78.4
51.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.66€4.86
$10.69MX$181
-47.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87€1.61
$1.62MX$27.38
15.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35€2.02
$2.88MX$48.70
-18.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Levanto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.90€1.63
$0.57MX$9.69
233.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.85€42.86
$29.83MX$504
67.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.55€3.91
$5.45MX$92.1
-16.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.25€1.07
$3.70MX$62.6
-66.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$36.27€31.18
$5.98MX$101
506.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.05€1.77
$1.55MX$26.26
32.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1K€31.9K
$22.3KMX$377.4K
66.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.4K€31.3K
$25.9KMX$438.7K
40.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Levanto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$278€239
$89.1MX$1,507
212.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.80€9.28
$25.04MX$423
-56.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.76€26.44
$31.50MX$532
-2.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Levanto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6€52.1
$67.8MX$1,146
-10.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.24€22.56
$28.92MX$489
-9.27%
Cinema Ticket
$13.07€11.24
$5.05MX$85.4
158.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Levanto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$579€498
$225MX$3,803
157.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.3K€8,871
$4,222MX$71.4K
144.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Levanto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$132€113
$47.44MX$802
177.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.1€49.10
$44.98MX$760
26.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.8€78.9
$82.0MX$1,386
11.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130€111
$92.1MX$1,557
40.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Levanto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$727€625
$1,069MX$18.1K
-32.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$593€510
$405MX$6,852
46.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,133€974
$1,935MX$32.7K
-41.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,056€908
$1,301MX$22.0K
-18.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,690€2,313
$3,995MX$67.5K
-32.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,038€1,752
$6,626MX$112.0K
-69.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Levanto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$749MX$12.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.62
11.45
-68.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Levanto: August 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $727 in Levanto and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $82.0 in Levanto vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $442 vs $277 per month, with Playa del Carmen 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
Levanto vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Levanto or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 57% lower than in Levanto. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Levanto and in Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $3,038 in Levanto and $1,940 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Levanto compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $727 in Levanto versus $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Levanto and in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $82.0 in Levanto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Levanto compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,025 per month in Levanto versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen – a 57% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Levanto or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,025 in Levanto, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Levanto. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Levanto or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,293 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Levanto compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Levanto 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 Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Levanto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.