πA single person spends $3,108 per month in Lewisham vs $1,262 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
πA couple spends around $5,066 per month in Lewisham vs $2,158 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
πA family of three spends $7,024 per month in Lewisham vs $3,054 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
πLewisham costs about 146% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πLewisham sits 131% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below β they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Lewisham
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.61Β£15.27
$11.61MX$201
77.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.0Β£60.8
$42.75MX$742
91.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.86Β£7.31
$10.60MX$184
-6.98%
Cappuccino
$4.79Β£3.55
$3.59MX$62.3
33.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09Β£1.55
$1.45MX$25.21
44.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85Β£1.37
$0.90MX$15.58
105.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.99Β£6.66
$3.03MX$52.6
196.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.68Β£6.43
$4.56MX$79.2
90.35%
π Groceries & Markets
Lewisham
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.20Β£1.63
$1.45MX$25.20
51.72%
White Bread(500g)
$2.56Β£1.90
$1.83MX$31.72
39.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.17Β£2.35
$1.61MX$27.92
96.89%
Eggs
$5.87Β£4.35
$2.54MX$44.05
131.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.87Β£5.09
$8.54MX$148
-19.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.77Β£5.76
$8.47MX$147
-8.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.39Β£9.18
$10.86MX$189
14.09%
Apples(1kg)
$4.82Β£3.57
$2.73MX$47.37
76.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64Β£1.22
$1.49MX$25.91
10.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.90Β£2.15
$1.94MX$33.73
49.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.20Β£3.11
$2.16MX$37.57
94.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.70Β£1.26
$1.85MX$32.05
-8.11%
Onion(1kg)
$2.67Β£1.98
$2.19MX$38.00
21.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92Β£0.68
$1.07MX$18.62
-14.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53Β£1.13
$1.08MX$18.81
41.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$26.24Β£19.45
$4.06MX$70.5
546.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.49Β£14.44
$10.46MX$182
86.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40Β£1.78
$1.65MX$28.71
45.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95Β£1.44
$2.55MX$44.23
-23.53%
π Getting Around
Lewisham
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$6.05Β£4.48
$0.56MX$9.65
980.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.8Β£65.1
$26.20MX$455
235.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.74Β£4.26
$3.14MX$54.5
82.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13Β£1.58
$2.37MX$41.17
-10.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.28Β£17.25
$3.24MX$56.2
618.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.17Β£1.61
$1.31MX$22.81
65.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2KΒ£28.3K
$30.5KMX$530.2K
25.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.4KΒ£29.9K
$23.8KMX$413.6K
69.38%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lewisham
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$411Β£304
$83.1MX$1,443
393.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.26Β£12.79
$22.15MX$385
-22.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.24Β£29.07
$29.37MX$510
33.61%
π Sport & Entertainment
Lewisham
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.41Β£33.65
$51.2MX$889
-11.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.69MX$324
-
Cinema Ticket
$20.31Β£15.05
$4.89MX$84.9
315.34%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Lewisham
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,617Β£1,198
$199MX$3,449
713.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.2KΒ£13.5K
$5,207MX$90.4K
249.86%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Lewisham
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$160Β£118
$35.93MX$624
344.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.5Β£45.57
$39.39MX$684
56.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$147Β£109
$80.3MX$1,394
82.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$170Β£126
$87.6MX$1,520
93.70%
π Accommodation & Living
Lewisham
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,143Β£1,588
$963MX$16.7K
122.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,570Β£1,163
$482MX$8,370
225.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,046Β£1,516
$1,645MX$28.6K
24.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,618Β£2,681
$1,192MX$20.7K
203.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,957MX$68.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,513MX$113.1K
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Lewisham
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,037Β£2,991
$726MX$12.6K
455.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.93
11.42
-39.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lewisham: April 14, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $2,143 in Lewisham versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
π°Salaries run about 456% higher in Lewisham, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $82 in Lewisham versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $334 vs $253 β making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Lewisham vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lewisham or Playa del Carmen?
Lewisham costs about 146% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lewisham vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,662 per month in Lewisham and $1,894 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lewisham or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Lewisham or Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 32% more in Lewisham, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Lewisham vs Playa del Carmen?
Can you live on $1,500/month in Lewisham or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,262, than in Lewisham at $3,108. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lewisham it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lewisham or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,262 versus $3,108 in Lewisham. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Lewisham or Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lewisham makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.