๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,727 in Lizzano versus $1,262 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,630 in Lizzano versus $2,158 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,532 in Lizzano versus $3,054 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Living in Lizzano is roughly 37% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Lizzano is 28% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Lizzano
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.40โฌ14.81
$11.61MX$201
49.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.2โฌ61.4
$42.75MX$742
68.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.57โฌ10.70
$10.60MX$184
18.58%
Cappuccino
$1.88โฌ1.60
$3.59MX$62.3
-47.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15โฌ1.83
$1.45MX$25.21
48.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35โฌ1.15
$0.90MX$15.58
50.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.75โฌ4.04
$3.03MX$52.6
56.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.71โฌ4.01
$4.56MX$79.2
3.29%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Lizzano
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78โฌ1.51
$1.45MX$25.20
22.76%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13โฌ1.81
$1.83MX$31.72
16.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.84โฌ2.42
$1.61MX$27.92
76.40%
Eggs
$3.91โฌ3.33
$2.54MX$44.05
53.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.46โฌ12.30
$8.54MX$148
69.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.21โฌ10.39
$8.47MX$147
44.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.00โฌ15.32
$10.86MX$189
65.75%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35โฌ2.00
$2.73MX$47.37
-13.92%
Banana(1kg)
$2.04โฌ1.73
$1.49MX$25.91
36.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.11โฌ1.79
$1.94MX$33.73
8.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.18โฌ2.71
$2.16MX$37.57
47.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.75โฌ1.49
$1.85MX$32.05
-5.41%
Onion(1kg)
$1.77โฌ1.51
$2.19MX$38.00
-19.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.35โฌ1.15
$1.07MX$18.62
26.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49โฌ0.42
$1.08MX$18.81
-54.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.89โฌ5.86
$4.06MX$70.5
69.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.66โฌ6.52
$10.46MX$182
-26.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42โฌ1.21
$1.65MX$28.71
-13.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01โฌ1.71
$2.55MX$44.23
-21.18%
๐ Getting Around
Lizzano
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.70โฌ1.45
$0.56MX$9.65
203.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.97โฌ37.42
$26.20MX$455
67.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.90โฌ5.02
$3.14MX$54.5
87.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.03โฌ1.73
$2.37MX$41.17
-14.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.39โฌ29.27
$3.24MX$56.2
961.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02โฌ1.72
$1.31MX$22.81
54.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1Kโฌ29.9K
$30.5KMX$530.2K
15.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5Kโฌ22.5K
$23.8KMX$413.6K
11.23%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lizzano
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188โฌ160
$83.1MX$1,443
125.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52โฌ11.51
$22.15MX$385
-38.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.57โฌ25.16
$29.37MX$510
0.68%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Lizzano
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.3โฌ46.18
$51.2MX$889
6.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.05โฌ19.62
$18.69MX$324
23.33%
Cinema Ticket
$8.73โฌ7.43
$4.89MX$84.9
78.53%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Lizzano
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$628โฌ534
$199MX$3,449
215.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,023โฌ6,828
$5,207MX$90.4K
54.08%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Lizzano
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101โฌ86.2
$35.93MX$624
181.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.25โฌ41.91
$39.39MX$684
25.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105โฌ89.7
$80.3MX$1,394
31.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150โฌ128
$87.6MX$1,520
71.15%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Lizzano
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$751โฌ639
$963MX$16.7K
-22.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$588โฌ500
$482MX$8,370
21.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,212โฌ1,031
$1,645MX$28.6K
-26.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$941โฌ800
$1,192MX$20.7K
-21.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,975โฌ2,532
$3,957MX$68.7K
-24.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,826โฌ1,554
$6,513MX$113.1K
-71.96%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Lizzano
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$726MX$12.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.74
11.42
-58.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lizzano: April 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $751 in Lizzano and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $72 in Lizzano vs $43 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $253 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
Lizzano vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lizzano and Playa del Carmen?
Lizzano and Playa del Carmen differ by about 37% in total monthly costs ($1,727 vs $1,262 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lizzano compared to Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $2,591 in Lizzano and $1,894 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Lizzano and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $751 in Lizzano versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Lizzano and Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 68% less than in Lizzano. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lizzano and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $628 in Lizzano versus $199 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,262 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,727 in Lizzano, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Lizzano. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lizzano and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lizzano or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lizzano 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.
Where should expats move: Lizzano or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 37% less than in Lizzano. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.