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: $2,019 in Lincoln, NE versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,115 in Lincoln, NE versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,210 in Lincoln, NE versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Lincoln, NE is roughly 60% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lincoln, NE is 52% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.91 $14.91

$11.72 MX$203

27.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.4 $57.4

$41.89 MX$725

36.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.21 $12.21

$10.51 MX$182

16.18%

Cappuccino

$5.24 $5.24

$3.59 MX$62.0

45.96%

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

$2.19 $2.19

$1.51 MX$26.10

45.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 $1.51

$0.92 MX$15.83

64.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.88 $4.88

$2.96 MX$51.2

64.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.05 $6.05

$4.41 MX$76.3

37.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.40 MX$24.16

-40.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.10 $3.10

$1.88 MX$32.60

64.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$1.56 MX$26.97

250.64%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$2.61 MX$45.14

66.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.67 $10.67

$8.32 MX$144

28.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.74 $10.74

$8.35 MX$145

28.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.56 $14.56

$10.86 MX$188

34.07%

Apples (1kg)

$6.00 $6.00

$2.71 MX$46.93

121.40%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.51 MX$26.04

34.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.62 $4.62

$1.87 MX$32.41

147.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$2.19 MX$37.89

113.24%

Potato (1kg)

$4.23 $4.23

$1.86 MX$32.14

127.42%

Onion (1kg)

$3.33 $3.33

$2.23 MX$38.59

49.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.07 MX$18.48

71.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$1.09 MX$18.79

111.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.96 $9.96

$4.19 MX$72.4

137.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.25 $17.25

$10.43 MX$180

65.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.66 MX$28.68

9.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 $3.31

$2.61 MX$45.19

26.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.77 $1.77

$0.54 MX$9.37

227.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.14 $29.14

$26.16 MX$453

11.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.62 $6.62

$3.08 MX$53.3

114.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$2.40 MX$41.61

-24.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.82 $34.82

$3.13 MX$54.1

1012.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.31 MX$22.69

-37.40%

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

$30.6K $30.6K

$29.8K MX$515.7K

2.62%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$23.3K MX$403.5K

7.76%

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

$109 $109

$81.3 MX$1,406

34.12%

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

$49.12 $49.12

$22.56 MX$390

117.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.1 $65.1

$30.05 MX$520

116.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.8 $55.8

$52.9 MX$915

5.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.97 $26.97

$18.39 MX$318

46.66%

Cinema Ticket

$15.11 $15.11

$4.92 MX$85.1

207.11%

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

$1,091 $1,091

$201 MX$3,474

443.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K $23.5K

$5,175 MX$89.5K

354.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.81 $49.81

$35.92 MX$622

38.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.68 $35.68

$40.13 MX$694

-11.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 $84.8

$79.7 MX$1,379

6.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.9 $93.9

$86.5 MX$1,496

8.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,010 $1,010

$978 MX$16.9K

3.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$837 $837

$470 MX$8,140

77.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,483 $2,483

$1,651 MX$28.6K

50.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,681 $1,681

$1,203 MX$20.8K

39.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,878 $1,878

$3,953 MX$68.4K

-52.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,902 $1,902

$6,607 MX$114.3K

-71.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,753 $3,753

$677 MX$11.7K

454.67%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,010 in Lincoln, NE and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lincoln, NE pays 455% 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 $397 vs $252 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 60% 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.

Average pay runs 455% higher in Lincoln, NE, 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: $1,010 in Lincoln, NE versus $978 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 $2,019 per month in Lincoln, NE versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – a 60% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,019 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 $1,260 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 60% less than in Lincoln, NE. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.