😐A single person spends $2,106 per month in Liege vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,136 per month in Liege vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,165 per month in Liege vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Liege costs about 66% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Liege sits 57% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Liege
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.70€15.25
$11.87MX$204
49.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.2€78.6
$42.90MX$736
112.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.00€10.34
$10.65MX$183
12.68%
Cappuccino
$3.51€3.03
$3.45MX$59.2
1.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19€2.75
$1.50MX$25.81
112.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.97
$0.95MX$16.28
141.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.66€4.01
$3.03MX$51.9
53.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74€3.22
$4.61MX$79.1
-18.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Liege
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$1.38MX$23.61
-7.25%
White Bread(500g)
$2.84€2.44
$1.85MX$31.70
53.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$1.61MX$27.65
41.61%
Eggs
$3.92€3.38
$2.59MX$44.51
51.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$25.37€21.86
$8.26MX$142
207.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.43€9.85
$8.37MX$144
36.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.67€18.67
$10.66MX$183
103.28%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23€2.78
$2.63MX$45.12
22.81%
Banana(1kg)
$2.51€2.16
$1.49MX$25.53
68.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.10€2.67
$1.92MX$32.94
61.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.21€2.76
$2.09MX$35.81
53.59%
Potato(1kg)
$3.06€2.64
$1.86MX$31.88
64.52%
Onion(1kg)
$2.13€1.84
$2.26MX$38.81
-5.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.82€1.57
$1.06MX$18.23
71.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.78
$1.09MX$18.67
-17.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.39€8.09
$4.15MX$71.2
126.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.76€5.82
$10.39MX$178
-34.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.84
$1.72MX$29.59
23.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14€2.71
$2.61MX$44.85
20.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Liege
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.62€2.26
$0.54MX$9.30
385.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.65€37.60
$26.94MX$462
62.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.97€4.28
$3.13MX$53.7
58.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.04€2.62
$2.51MX$43.09
21.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$40.43€34.83
$3.15MX$54.1
1183.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.85€1.59
$1.27MX$21.88
45.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K€30.3K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
15.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5K€25.4K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
25.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Liege
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$342€295
$83.0MX$1,425
312.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.63€24.67
$22.71MX$390
26.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.0€52.5
$29.46MX$506
106.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Liege
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.63€31.56
$51.0MX$875
-28.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.12€19.92
$18.33MX$315
26.13%
Cinema Ticket
$15.54€13.39
$4.93MX$84.5
215.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Liege
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$883€761
$197MX$3,386
347.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3K€11.4K
$5,280MX$90.6K
151.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Liege
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.8€74.0
$36.90MX$633
132.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.90€40.41
$39.89MX$685
17.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€96.0
$80.0MX$1,373
39.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$171€147
$89.5MX$1,536
90.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Liege
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$830€715
$956MX$16.4K
-13.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$684€589
$477MX$8,189
43.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,377€1,186
$1,646MX$28.3K
-16.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,019€878
$1,225MX$21.0K
-16.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,850€2,455
$3,918MX$67.2K
-27.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,127€1,832
$6,459MX$110.9K
-67.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Liege
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,953€2,545
$667MX$11.4K
342.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.65
11.42
-68.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Liege: June 6, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $830 in Liege versus $956 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 343% higher in Liege, 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 $91.0 in Liege versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $386 vs $250 – 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
Liege vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Liege and Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,106 in Liege, $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 66% apart. Liege costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Liege compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,159 per month in Liege and $1,906 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 Liege 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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $91.0 in Liege and $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Liege or Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,106 in Liege and $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
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 $1,271, than in Liege at $2,106. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Liege it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Liege and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,271 in Playa del Carmen to $2,106 in Liege. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Liege 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 Liege 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, Liege makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.