Cost of Living Comparison Between Lidingo and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Lidingo and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,869 per month in Lidingo vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,892 per month in Lidingo vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,915 per month in Lidingo vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Lidingo costs about 48% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Lidingo sits 37% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.40 SEK 141
$11.60 MX$199
24.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.0 SEK 717
$47.11 MX$809
54.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.51 SEK 113
$11.88 MX$204
-3.11%
Cappuccino
$3.10 SEK 30.49
$3.98 MX$68.2
-22.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 SEK 23.96
$1.43 MX$24.49
70.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 SEK 25.25
$0.82 MX$14.16
213.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.57 SEK 64.6
$3.19 MX$54.7
105.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71 SEK 56.1
$6.79 MX$117
-15.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 SEK 14.28
$1.68 MX$28.76
-13.69%
White Bread (500g)
$3.13 SEK 30.80
$2.20 MX$37.71
42.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.72 SEK 36.53
$1.71 MX$29.32
117.54%
Eggs
$4.12 SEK 40.47
$2.74 MX$47.05
50.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.46 SEK 122
$9.58 MX$164
30.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.26 SEK 130
$9.01 MX$155
47.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.12 SEK 227
$12.81 MX$220
80.48%
Apples (1kg)
$3.24 SEK 31.88
$2.89 MX$49.58
12.11%
Banana (1kg)
$2.51 SEK 24.66
$1.50 MX$25.70
67.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.78 SEK 37.10
$2.15 MX$36.87
75.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.22 SEK 41.48
$2.26 MX$38.79
86.73%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 SEK 20.12
$1.98 MX$34.00
3.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 SEK 19.07
$1.99 MX$34.15
-2.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.31 SEK 22.69
$1.23 MX$21.18
87.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 SEK 15.51
$1.20 MX$20.54
31.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.77 SEK 76.3
$4.55 MX$78.1
70.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.64 SEK 124
$10.37 MX$178
21.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 SEK 14.00
$1.62 MX$27.79
-11.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 SEK 22.34
$2.88 MX$49.44
-21.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.49 SEK 34.31
$0.60 MX$10.30
481.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$78.7 SEK 773
$28.80 MX$494
173.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.60 SEK 35.38
$5.39 MX$92.5
-33.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.94 SEK 28.84
$3.73 MX$64.0
-21.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$84.8 SEK 833
$5.77 MX$99.0
1370.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.89 SEK 18.56
$1.54 MX$26.37
22.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K SEK 337.3K
$22.5K MX$387.0K
52.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K SEK 339.5K
$26.1K MX$447.3K
32.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$191 SEK 1,880
$91.4 MX$1,569
109.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.36 SEK 230
$25.20 MX$433
-7.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.63 SEK 448
$31.24 MX$536
46.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.99 SEK 383
$67.2 MX$1,154
-41.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.81 SEK 254
$29.11 MX$500
-11.34%
Cinema Ticket
$17.25 SEK 169
$4.86 MX$83.5
254.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$157 SEK 1,545
$224 MX$3,839
-29.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,196 SEK 51.0K
$4,229 MX$72.6K
22.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106 SEK 1,046
$47.10 MX$808
125.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.03 SEK 403
$44.29 MX$760
-7.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.9 SEK 903
$80.1 MX$1,375
14.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 SEK 1,415
$92.7 MX$1,591
55.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$844 SEK 8,290
$1,063 MX$18.2K
-20.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$610 SEK 5,997
$390 MX$6,698
56.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,386 SEK 13.6K
$2,149 MX$36.9K
-35.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,066 SEK 10.5K
$1,272 MX$21.8K
-16.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,140 SEK 40.7K
$4,001 MX$68.7K
3.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,973 SEK 29.2K
$6,502 MX$111.6K
-54.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,592 SEK 25.5K
$758 MX$13.0K
241.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.53
11.45
-69.17%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lidingo: September 15, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $844 in Lidingo 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 242% 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 $73.0 in Lidingo versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $393 vs $276 – 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 in Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,869 in Lidingo, $1,266 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 48% 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 $2,804 per month in Lidingo and $1,899 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 $224 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 42% 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 $1,266, than in Lidingo at $1,869. 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 $1,266 in Playa del Carmen to $1,869 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.

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