Cost of Living Comparison Between Lincoln, NE and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Lincoln, NE and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,029 in Lincoln, NE versus $1,294 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,112 in Lincoln, NE versus $2,189 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,196 in Lincoln, NE versus $3,084 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Lincoln, NE is roughly 57% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lincoln, NE is 52% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.17 $15.17

$11.73 MX$202

29.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.2 $57.2

$41.78 MX$719

36.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.88 $11.88

$10.41 MX$179

14.12%

Cappuccino

$4.98 $4.98

$3.61 MX$62.1

37.95%

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

$2.19 $2.19

$1.46 MX$25.06

50.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 $1.51

$0.97 MX$16.70

55.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.04 $5.04

$2.92 MX$50.3

72.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 $5.90

$4.62 MX$79.5

27.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.43 MX$24.59

-41.96%

White Bread (500g)

$3.09 $3.09

$1.90 MX$32.70

62.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$1.57 MX$26.95

245.22%

Eggs

$4.42 $4.42

$2.64 MX$45.34

67.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.97 $10.97

$8.44 MX$145

29.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.95 $10.95

$8.58 MX$148

27.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.24 $14.24

$11.00 MX$189

29.45%

Apples (1kg)

$6.01 $6.01

$2.70 MX$46.51

122.59%

Banana (1kg)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.51 MX$25.92

33.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$1.91 MX$32.93

150.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.72 $4.72

$2.17 MX$37.37

117.51%

Potato (1kg)

$4.28 $4.28

$1.87 MX$32.25

128.88%

Onion (1kg)

$3.40 $3.40

$2.23 MX$38.43

52.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.08 MX$18.60

67.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$1.07 MX$18.47

116.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.74 $9.74

$4.16 MX$71.6

134.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.86 $16.86

$10.29 MX$177

63.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.68 MX$28.95

7.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.53 MX$43.59

30.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.71 $1.71

$0.55 MX$9.53

210.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.37 $29.37

$26.29 MX$452

11.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.92 $6.92

$3.20 MX$55.0

116.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.46 MX$42.37

-26.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.34 $34.34

$3.20 MX$55.0

973.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.32 MX$22.72

-37.88%

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

$29.9K $29.9K

$30.2K MX$518.8K

-0.71%

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

$24.5K $24.5K

$23.4K MX$402.5K

4.70%

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

$109 $109

$81.4 MX$1,400

34.10%

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

$49.19 $49.19

$22.41 MX$386

119.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.2 $64.2

$29.97 MX$516

114.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.1 $56.1

$51.6 MX$887

8.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.51 $26.51

$18.39 MX$316

44.15%

Cinema Ticket

$15.01 $15.01

$5.16 MX$88.9

190.89%

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

$1,078 $1,078

$202 MX$3,471

434.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$5,311 MX$91.4K

345.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.38 $49.38

$35.61 MX$613

38.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.69 $34.69

$40.37 MX$695

-14.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$78.6 MX$1,353

10.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.3 $92.3

$86.9 MX$1,495

6.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,018 $1,018

$950 MX$16.3K

7.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$835 $835

$478 MX$8,227

74.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,457 $2,457

$1,621 MX$27.9K

51.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,659 $1,659

$1,223 MX$21.0K

35.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,882 $1,882

$4,009 MX$69.0K

-53.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,868 $1,868

$6,473 MX$111.4K

-71.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,784 $3,784

$673 MX$11.6K

462.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

11.42

-42.73%

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

Last update for Lincoln, NE: June 16, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,018 in Lincoln, NE and $950 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lincoln, NE pays 462% 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: $57.0 in Lincoln, NE vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $398 vs $254 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

Lincoln, NE vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 57% lower than in Lincoln, NE. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Lincoln, NE pays 462% more on average, 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: $1,018 in Lincoln, NE versus $950 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $57.0 in Lincoln, NE. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,029 per month in Lincoln, NE versus $1,294 in Playa del Carmen – a 57% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,294 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,029 in Lincoln, NE, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Lincoln, NE. 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 $1,294 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Lincoln, NE 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 57% less than in Lincoln, NE. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.