😐A single person spends $1,862 per month in Lidingo vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,750 per month in Lidingo vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,637 per month in Lidingo vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Lidingo costs about 48% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Lidingo sits 40% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.91SEK 104
$11.72MX$203
-6.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.4SEK 530
$41.89MX$726
32.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.60SEK 82.2
$10.51MX$182
-18.17%
Cappuccino
$3.21SEK 30.75
$3.59MX$62.1
-10.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23SEK 30.94
$1.51MX$26.13
113.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61SEK 24.95
$0.92MX$15.86
183.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.33SEK 51.0
$2.96MX$51.2
80.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69SEK 44.89
$4.41MX$76.4
6.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61SEK 15.38
$1.40MX$24.19
15.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.62SEK 25.05
$1.88MX$32.65
39.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.83SEK 36.62
$1.56MX$27.01
145.51%
Eggs
$3.83SEK 36.65
$2.61MX$45.20
46.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.91SEK 114
$8.32MX$144
43.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.27SEK 117
$8.35MX$145
46.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.84SEK 180
$10.86MX$188
73.48%
Apples(1kg)
$3.37SEK 32.21
$2.71MX$47.00
24.35%
Banana(1kg)
$2.56SEK 24.50
$1.51MX$26.08
69.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.46SEK 33.05
$1.87MX$32.46
85.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.72SEK 35.63
$2.19MX$37.94
69.86%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08SEK 19.94
$1.86MX$32.18
11.83%
Onion(1kg)
$2.02SEK 19.33
$2.23MX$38.64
-9.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.91SEK 27.88
$1.07MX$18.51
171.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.84SEK 17.58
$1.09MX$18.82
68.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.89SEK 75.4
$4.19MX$72.5
88.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.51SEK 120
$10.43MX$181
19.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45SEK 13.91
$1.66MX$28.72
-12.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27SEK 21.68
$2.61MX$45.26
-13.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.47SEK 33.16
$0.54MX$9.39
542.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.1SEK 699
$26.16MX$453
179.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.80SEK 36.36
$3.08MX$53.3
23.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60SEK 15.34
$2.40MX$41.66
-33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$85.3SEK 816
$3.13MX$54.2
2625.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.97SEK 18.87
$1.31MX$22.72
50.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.1KSEK 306.7K
$29.8KMX$516.4K
7.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8KSEK 332.8K
$23.3KMX$404.1K
49.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191SEK 1,823
$81.3MX$1,408
134.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.33SEK 281
$22.56MX$391
30.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.18SEK 394
$30.05MX$521
37.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.80SEK 381
$52.9MX$917
-24.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.85SEK 238
$18.39MX$319
35.13%
Cinema Ticket
$19.33SEK 185
$4.92MX$85.2
292.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$156SEK 1,488
$201MX$3,479
-22.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,159SEK 39.8K
$5,175MX$89.7K
-19.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.4SEK 903
$35.92MX$622
162.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.92SEK 401
$40.13MX$695
4.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.8SEK 888
$79.7MX$1,381
16.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126SEK 1,207
$86.5MX$1,498
45.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$846SEK 8,091
$978MX$16.9K
-13.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$657SEK 6,288
$470MX$8,152
39.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,378SEK 13.2K
$1,651MX$28.6K
-16.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,077SEK 10.3K
$1,203MX$20.9K
-10.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,031SEK 38.6K
$3,953MX$68.5K
1.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,872SEK 27.5K
$6,607MX$114.5K
-56.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lidingo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,581SEK 24.7K
$677MX$11.7K
281.48%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $846 in Lidingo versus $978 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 281% 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 $55.0 in Lidingo versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $372 vs $252 – 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: $1,862 in Lidingo, $1,260 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 $2,793 per month in Lidingo and $1,890 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 $156 per month in Lidingo and $201 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 48% 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 $1,260, than in Lidingo at $1,862. 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 $1,260 in Playa del Carmen to $1,862 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.