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