😐A single person spends $1,834 per month in Lidingo vs $1,294 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,744 per month in Lidingo vs $2,189 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,655 per month in Lidingo vs $3,084 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Lidingo costs about 42% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Lidingo sits 38% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.18SEK 105
$11.73MX$202
-4.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.8SEK 522
$41.78MX$719
33.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.58SEK 80.3
$10.41MX$179
-17.58%
Cappuccino
$3.25SEK 30.38
$3.61MX$62.1
-9.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10SEK 28.96
$1.46MX$25.06
112.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61SEK 24.40
$0.97MX$16.70
169.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.32SEK 49.77
$2.92MX$50.3
82.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.83SEK 45.21
$4.62MX$79.5
4.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.55SEK 14.52
$1.43MX$24.59
8.39%
White Bread(500g)
$2.67SEK 24.97
$1.90MX$32.70
40.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.79SEK 35.47
$1.57MX$26.95
141.40%
Eggs
$3.98SEK 37.26
$2.64MX$45.34
50.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.13SEK 114
$8.44MX$145
43.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.38SEK 116
$8.58MX$148
44.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.91SEK 177
$11.00MX$189
71.91%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23SEK 30.21
$2.70MX$46.51
19.63%
Banana(1kg)
$2.56SEK 23.95
$1.51MX$25.92
69.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.59SEK 33.56
$1.91MX$32.93
87.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.58SEK 33.53
$2.17MX$37.37
64.98%
Potato(1kg)
$2.17SEK 20.28
$1.87MX$32.25
16.04%
Onion(1kg)
$1.95SEK 18.21
$2.23MX$38.43
-12.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.96SEK 27.73
$1.08MX$18.60
174.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.83SEK 17.08
$1.07MX$18.47
71.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.92SEK 74.1
$4.16MX$71.6
90.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.49SEK 136
$10.29MX$177
40.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43SEK 13.41
$1.68MX$28.95
-14.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27SEK 21.27
$2.53MX$43.59
-10.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.45SEK 32.32
$0.55MX$9.53
527.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$74.6SEK 698
$26.29MX$452
183.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.64SEK 34.09
$3.20MX$55.0
13.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.66SEK 15.55
$2.46MX$42.37
-32.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$85.3SEK 798
$3.20MX$55.0
2566.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99SEK 18.59
$1.32MX$22.72
50.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2KSEK 310.5K
$30.2KMX$518.8K
10.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.7KSEK 315.4K
$23.4KMX$402.5K
44.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188SEK 1,755
$81.4MX$1,400
130.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.03SEK 272
$22.41MX$386
29.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.72SEK 381
$29.97MX$516
35.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.48SEK 379
$51.6MX$887
-21.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.82SEK 232
$18.39MX$316
34.96%
Cinema Ticket
$19.45SEK 182
$5.16MX$88.9
276.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$157SEK 1,469
$202MX$3,471
-22.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,180SEK 39.1K
$5,311MX$91.4K
-21.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.1SEK 890
$35.61MX$613
167.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.40SEK 397
$40.37MX$695
5.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.5SEK 875
$78.6MX$1,353
18.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124SEK 1,158
$86.9MX$1,495
42.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$836SEK 7,816
$950MX$16.3K
-12.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$646SEK 6,044
$478MX$8,227
35.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,387SEK 13.0K
$1,621MX$27.9K
-14.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,097SEK 10.3K
$1,223MX$21.0K
-10.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,281SEK 40.0K
$4,009MX$69.0K
6.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,000SEK 28.1K
$6,473MX$111.4K
-53.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,648SEK 24.8K
$673MX$11.6K
293.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.87
11.42
-57.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lidingo: June 15, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $836 in Lidingo versus $950 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 293% higher in Lidingo, 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 $56.0 in Lidingo versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $377 vs $254 – 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
Lidingo vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Lidingo and Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,834 in Lidingo, $1,294 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 42% apart. Lidingo costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Lidingo compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,750 per month in Lidingo and $1,941 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Lidingo and 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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lidingo and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $157 per month in Lidingo and $202 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 49% more in Lidingo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,294, than in Lidingo at $1,834. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lidingo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Lidingo and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,294 in Playa del Carmen to $1,834 in Lidingo. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Lidingo or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Lidingo and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lidingo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.