😐A single person spends $1,813 per month in Lidingo vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,745 per month in Lidingo vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,677 per month in Lidingo vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Lidingo costs about 41% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Lidingo sits 35% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.97SEK 102
$11.94MX$209
-8.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.1SEK 522
$42.75MX$748
31.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.34SEK 77.6
$10.59MX$185
-21.25%
Cappuccino
$3.07SEK 28.52
$3.62MX$63.4
-15.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24SEK 30.11
$1.47MX$25.69
120.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59SEK 24.10
$0.94MX$16.51
175.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.22SEK 48.58
$3.09MX$54.1
68.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.80SEK 44.63
$4.46MX$78.0
7.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.60SEK 14.90
$1.43MX$24.94
11.89%
White Bread(500g)
$2.66SEK 24.71
$1.88MX$32.97
41.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.75SEK 34.87
$1.63MX$28.50
130.06%
Eggs
$3.92SEK 36.48
$2.64MX$46.26
48.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.95SEK 111
$8.21MX$144
45.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.71SEK 118
$8.29MX$145
53.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.85SEK 175
$11.10MX$194
69.82%
Apples(1kg)
$3.35SEK 31.11
$2.65MX$46.40
26.42%
Banana(1kg)
$2.57SEK 23.91
$1.50MX$26.26
71.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.61SEK 33.59
$1.99MX$34.79
81.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.71SEK 34.50
$2.08MX$36.33
78.37%
Potato(1kg)
$2.17SEK 20.17
$1.79MX$31.29
21.23%
Onion(1kg)
$2.02SEK 18.75
$2.18MX$38.09
-7.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.84SEK 26.45
$1.08MX$18.84
162.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.85SEK 17.18
$1.04MX$18.15
77.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.69SEK 71.5
$3.97MX$69.5
93.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.86SEK 138
$10.20MX$179
45.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38SEK 12.85
$1.73MX$30.22
-20.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24SEK 20.86
$2.50MX$43.71
-10.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.32SEK 30.92
$0.52MX$9.07
538.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$75.3SEK 700
$26.97MX$472
179.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.61SEK 33.62
$3.14MX$55.0
14.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59SEK 14.79
$2.40MX$42.04
-33.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$84.9SEK 789
$3.09MX$54.0
2645.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91SEK 17.73
$1.27MX$22.28
50.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8KSEK 305.4K
$30.9KMX$540.4K
6.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9KSEK 315.0K
$23.3KMX$408.0K
45.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188SEK 1,746
$82.0MX$1,435
128.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.24SEK 272
$22.45MX$393
30.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.23SEK 383
$29.66MX$519
39.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.30SEK 375
$51.9MX$908
-22.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.50SEK 237
$18.67MX$327
36.58%
Cinema Ticket
$19.14SEK 178
$4.97MX$87.0
285.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$159SEK 1,474
$198MX$3,462
-19.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,198SEK 39.0K
$5,273MX$92.3K
-20.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.1SEK 884
$36.34MX$636
161.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.91SEK 390
$40.05MX$701
4.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.9SEK 873
$79.9MX$1,398
17.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122SEK 1,132
$88.9MX$1,555
36.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$848SEK 7,882
$963MX$16.9K
-12.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$642SEK 5,971
$465MX$8,133
38.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,380SEK 12.8K
$1,596MX$27.9K
-13.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,078SEK 10.0K
$1,209MX$21.2K
-10.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,355SEK 40.5K
$3,942MX$69.0K
10.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,072SEK 28.6K
$6,448MX$112.8K
-52.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,732SEK 25.4K
$720MX$12.6K
279.27%
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: April 28, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $848 in Lidingo 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.
💰Salaries run about 279% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $380 vs $251 – 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: $1,813 in Lidingo, $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 41% 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 $2,720 per month in Lidingo and $1,930 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 $159 per month in Lidingo and $198 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 51% 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 $1,287, than in Lidingo at $1,813. 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 $1,287 in Playa del Carmen to $1,813 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.