😐A single person spends $3,107 per month in Lewisham vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,002 per month in Lewisham vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $6,897 per month in Lewisham vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Lewisham costs about 145% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Lewisham sits 127% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lewisham
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.92£17.88
$11.60MX$200
106.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.4£60.1
$47.11MX$812
70.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.90£8.14
$11.88MX$205
-8.25%
Cappuccino
$4.76£3.55
$3.98MX$68.6
19.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05£1.54
$1.43MX$24.60
43.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80£1.35
$0.82MX$14.22
119.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.74£5.04
$3.19MX$55.0
111.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.13£4.58
$6.79MX$117
-9.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lewisham
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76£1.32
$1.68MX$28.89
4.76%
White Bread(500g)
$2.01£1.50
$2.20MX$37.88
-8.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.11£1.58
$1.71MX$29.45
23.39%
Eggs
$4.38£3.27
$2.74MX$47.26
59.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.84£5.11
$9.58MX$165
-28.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.56£4.90
$9.01MX$155
-27.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.09£9.04
$12.81MX$221
-5.62%
Apples(1kg)
$4.32£3.23
$2.89MX$49.81
49.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46£1.09
$1.50MX$25.81
-2.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90£1.42
$2.15MX$37.03
-11.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.48£2.60
$2.26MX$38.96
53.98%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38£1.03
$1.98MX$34.15
-30.30%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89£1.41
$1.99MX$34.30
-5.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.76£0.57
$1.23MX$21.28
-38.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51£1.13
$1.20MX$20.63
25.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$23.95£17.90
$4.55MX$78.5
426.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.62£8.69
$10.37MX$179
12.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27£1.70
$1.62MX$27.91
40.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86£1.39
$2.88MX$49.67
-35.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Lewisham
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.99£2.24
$0.60MX$10.35
398.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$158£118
$28.80MX$497
446.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.56£4.90
$5.39MX$92.9
21.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$3.73MX$64.3
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$31.04£23.20
$5.77MX$99.5
437.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.96£1.47
$1.54MX$26.48
27.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4K£28.7K
$22.5KMX$388.8K
70.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.3K£30.1K
$26.1KMX$449.3K
54.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lewisham
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$408£305
$91.4MX$1,576
346.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.78£18.52
$25.20MX$435
-1.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.23£32.30
$31.24MX$539
38.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lewisham
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.30£34.60
$67.2MX$1,159
-31.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11MX$502
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.04£12.73
$4.86MX$83.8
250.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lewisham
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$817£611
$224MX$3,856
265.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$82.1K£61.4K
$4,229MX$72.9K
1841.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lewisham
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$161£120
$47.10MX$812
242.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$67.5£50.4
$44.29MX$764
52.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$136£102
$80.1MX$1,381
70.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129£96.4
$92.7MX$1,598
39.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lewisham
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,325£1,738
$1,063MX$18.3K
118.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,571£1,174
$390MX$6,728
302.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$5,568£4,161
$2,149MX$37.1K
159.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,655£2,731
$1,272MX$21.9K
187.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,001MX$69.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,502MX$112.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lewisham
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,248£2,428
$758MX$13.1K
328.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.54
11.45
-51.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lewisham: September 15, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $2,325 in Lewisham versus $1,063 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.
💰Salaries run about 328% higher in Lewisham, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Lewisham versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $276 in Lewisham vs $276 in Playa del Carmen – so Lewisham wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 145% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,660 per month in Lewisham and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 0% 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Lewisham and $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Lewisham or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in Lewisham at $3,107. 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 $1,266 versus $3,107 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 to 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.