๐A single person spends $687 per month in Liaocheng vs $1,262 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $1,059 per month in Liaocheng vs $2,158 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $1,431 per month in Liaocheng vs $3,054 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐Liaocheng is about 46% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both Liaocheng and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median โ Liaocheng49% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Liaocheng
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.82ยฅ19.23
$11.61MX$201
-75.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.69ยฅ86.7
$42.75MX$742
-70.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.82ยฅ39.76
$10.60MX$184
-45.09%
Cappuccino
$1.72ยฅ11.75
$3.59MX$62.3
-52.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38ยฅ2.58
$1.45MX$25.21
-73.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25ยฅ1.70
$0.90MX$15.58
-72.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.74ยฅ5.05
$3.03MX$52.6
-75.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26ยฅ15.45
$4.56MX$79.2
-50.44%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Liaocheng
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76ยฅ12.01
$1.45MX$25.20
21.38%
White Bread(500g)
$1.60ยฅ10.91
$1.83MX$31.72
-12.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.95ยฅ6.50
$1.61MX$27.92
-40.99%
Eggs
$1.59ยฅ10.84
$2.54MX$44.05
-37.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.62ยฅ86.2
$8.54MX$148
47.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.24ยฅ22.12
$8.47MX$147
-61.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.31ยฅ70.4
$10.86MX$189
-5.06%
Apples(1kg)
$1.75ยฅ11.94
$2.73MX$47.37
-35.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22ยฅ8.33
$1.49MX$25.91
-18.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.42ยฅ9.73
$1.94MX$33.73
-26.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.13ยฅ7.71
$2.16MX$37.57
-47.69%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71ยฅ4.88
$1.85MX$32.05
-61.62%
Onion(1kg)
$0.95ยฅ6.52
$2.19MX$38.00
-56.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.59ยฅ4.03
$1.07MX$18.62
-44.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51ยฅ3.49
$1.08MX$18.81
-52.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.05ยฅ20.83
$4.06MX$70.5
-24.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.19ยฅ69.6
$10.46MX$182
-2.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.80ยฅ5.46
$1.65MX$28.71
-51.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64ยฅ11.18
$2.55MX$44.23
-35.69%
๐ Getting Around
Liaocheng
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29ยฅ2.00
$0.56MX$9.65
-48.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.49ยฅ113
$26.20MX$455
-37.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38ยฅ9.42
$3.14MX$54.5
-56.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35ยฅ2.41
$2.37MX$41.17
-85.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.85ยฅ46.77
$3.24MX$56.2
111.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.12ยฅ7.64
$1.31MX$22.81
-14.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4Kยฅ132.6K
$30.5KMX$530.2K
-36.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7Kยฅ114.2K
$23.8KMX$413.6K
-29.82%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Liaocheng
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.13ยฅ315
$83.1MX$1,443
-44.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.04ยฅ68.6
$22.15MX$385
-54.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.67ยฅ79.7
$29.37MX$510
-60.27%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Liaocheng
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.24ยฅ288
$51.2MX$889
-17.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.96ยฅ95.4
$18.69MX$324
-25.31%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18ยฅ42.19
$4.89MX$84.9
26.38%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Liaocheng
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$330ยฅ2,253
$199MX$3,449
66.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.9Kยฅ115.4K
$5,207MX$90.4K
224.47%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Liaocheng
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.85ยฅ265
$35.93MX$624
8.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.82ยฅ190
$39.39MX$684
-29.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.9ยฅ457
$80.3MX$1,394
-16.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.8ยฅ388
$87.6MX$1,520
-35.13%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Liaocheng
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$283ยฅ1,932
$963MX$16.7K
-70.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$184ยฅ1,260
$482MX$8,370
-61.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$580ยฅ3,965
$1,645MX$28.6K
-64.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$364ยฅ2,485
$1,192MX$20.7K
-69.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,213ยฅ21.9K
$3,957MX$68.7K
-18.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,284ยฅ8,771
$6,513MX$113.1K
-80.28%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Liaocheng
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$576ยฅ3,936
$726MX$12.6K
-20.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.92
11.42
-65.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Liaocheng: April 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $283 in Liaocheng 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.
๐ฐSalaries run about 26% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $13 in Liaocheng versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $253 โ making Liaocheng 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
Liaocheng vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Liaocheng?
Yes โ Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 84%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,030 per month in Liaocheng and $1,894 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Liaocheng, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 59% less in Liaocheng. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $330 per month in Liaocheng and $199 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Liaocheng or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Liaocheng, where all-in costs run around $687, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,262. In Liaocheng it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Liaocheng or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Liaocheng โ lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Liaocheng. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.