Cost of Living Comparison Between Lihue, HI and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Lihue, HI and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,124 in Lihue, HI versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,521 in Lihue, HI versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,918 in Lihue, HI versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Lihue, HI is roughly 149% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lihue, HI is 134% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$45.18 $45.18

$11.99 MX$209

276.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.0 $80.0

$41.78 MX$728

91.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.44 $12.44

$10.75 MX$187

15.72%

Cappuccino

$6.82 $6.82

$3.50 MX$60.9

94.86%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.45 MX$25.22

77.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$0.88 MX$15.41

126.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.90 $3.90

$2.95 MX$51.3

32.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.51 MX$78.6

-13.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.43 MX$24.94

26.57%

White Bread (500g)

$6.75 $6.75

$1.84 MX$31.99

266.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.57 MX$27.31

78.34%

Eggs

$10.29 $10.29

$2.51 MX$43.74

309.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.61 $15.61

$8.28 MX$144

88.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.20 $15.20

$8.43 MX$147

80.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.86 $19.86

$10.68 MX$186

85.96%

Apples (1kg)

$4.80 $4.80

$2.61 MX$45.43

83.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.44 MX$25.04

13.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.86 $8.86

$1.96 MX$34.16

352.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.71 $9.71

$2.09 MX$36.47

364.59%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.85 MX$32.24

50.81%

Onion (1kg)

$6.09 $6.09

$2.17 MX$37.74

180.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.62 $3.62

$1.03 MX$17.96

251.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.07 MX$18.70

96.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.10 $12.10

$4.10 MX$71.4

195.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.03 $16.03

$10.17 MX$177

57.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.68 MX$29.17

-3.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 $1.62

$2.53 MX$43.98

-35.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.51 MX$8.87

296.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.2 $52.2

$26.04 MX$453

100.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.23 MX$56.3

6.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 $1.60

$2.41 MX$41.88

-33.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.57 $29.57

$3.23 MX$56.2

815.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.32 MX$23.00

6.82%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.5K $29.5K

$29.7K MX$517.1K

-0.58%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.0K $26.0K

$23.7K MX$412.0K

10.00%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$190 $190

$82.0 MX$1,428

132.02%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$30.24 $30.24

$22.95 MX$400

31.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.6 $55.6

$30.11 MX$524

84.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.65 $42.65

$52.0 MX$905

-17.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$323

Cinema Ticket

$8.98 $8.98

$4.98 MX$86.6

80.32%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,204 $1,204

$197 MX$3,438

509.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K $15.7K

$5,336 MX$92.9K

194.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 $50.3

$35.60 MX$620

41.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.78 $40.78

$40.33 MX$702

1.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.3 $87.3

$78.8 MX$1,371

10.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$88.9 MX$1,549

25.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,038 $2,038

$947 MX$16.5K

115.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,506 $1,506

$474 MX$8,254

217.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,613 $2,613

$1,644 MX$28.6K

58.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,211 MX$21.1K

85.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,993 $2,993

$4,056 MX$70.6K

-26.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 $2,227

$6,470 MX$112.7K

-65.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,976 $1,976

$654 MX$11.4K

202.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

11.42

-43.08%

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

Last update for Lihue, HI: July 14, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,038 in Lihue, HI and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lihue, HI pays 202% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $80.0 in Lihue, HI vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $542 vs $249 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

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

Lihue, HI vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 149% lower than in Lihue, HI. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 202% higher in Lihue, HI, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,038 in Lihue, HI versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,124 per month in Lihue, HI versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – a 149% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 101% less than in Lihue, HI. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,124 in Lihue, HI, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Lihue, HI. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,256 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Lihue, HI and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 149% less than in Lihue, HI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.