Cost of Living Comparison Between Loja and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Loja and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $749 per month in Loja vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,115 per month in Loja vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,481 per month in Loja vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Loja is about 42% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Loja and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Loja 44% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.01 $3.01

$11.94 MX$208

-74.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.79 $19.79

$42.75 MX$744

-53.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.79 $6.79

$10.59 MX$184

-35.88%

Cappuccino

$1.79 $1.79

$3.62 MX$63.0

-50.55%

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

$0.60 $0.60

$1.47 MX$25.54

-59.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 $0.49

$0.94 MX$16.41

-47.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 $0.98

$3.09 MX$53.8

-68.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$4.46 MX$77.6

-54.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.43 MX$24.80

-27.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.88 MX$32.79

-29.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.63 MX$28.34

-7.98%

Eggs

$1.90 $1.90

$2.64 MX$45.99

-28.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$8.21 MX$143

-31.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.58 $4.58

$8.29 MX$144

-44.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.84 $5.84

$11.10 MX$193

-47.39%

Apples (1kg)

$1.37 $1.37

$2.65 MX$46.14

-48.30%

Banana (1kg)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.50 MX$26.11

-40.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.99 MX$34.59

-48.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.07 $1.07

$2.08 MX$36.13

-48.56%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 $0.74

$1.79 MX$31.11

-58.66%

Onion (1kg)

$0.86 $0.86

$2.18 MX$37.87

-60.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 $0.49

$1.08 MX$18.73

-54.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.04 MX$18.04

-1.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.73 $5.73

$3.97 MX$69.1

44.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.95 $6.95

$10.20 MX$178

-31.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.73 MX$30.04

-16.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.50 MX$43.46

10.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 $0.29

$0.52 MX$9.02

-44.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.34 $40.34

$26.97 MX$469

49.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.63 $0.63

$3.14 MX$54.7

-79.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 $1.03

$2.40 MX$41.80

-57.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.48 $13.48

$3.09 MX$53.7

336.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.68 $0.68

$1.27 MX$22.16

-46.46%

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

$15.1K $15.1K

$30.9K MX$537.3K

-51.08%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$23.3K MX$405.7K

21.59%

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

$20.13 $20.13

$82.0 MX$1,427

-75.45%

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

$10.62 $10.62

$22.45 MX$391

-52.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.88 $27.88

$29.66 MX$516

-6.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.11 $33.11

$51.9 MX$903

-36.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.00 $14.00

$18.67 MX$325

-25.01%

Cinema Ticket

$7.45 $7.45

$4.97 MX$86.5

49.90%

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

$178 $178

$198 MX$3,442

-9.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,028 $2,028

$5,273 MX$91.7K

-61.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.0 $57.0

$36.34 MX$632

56.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.4 $50.4

$40.05 MX$697

25.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$79.9 MX$1,390

8.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.5 $66.5

$88.9 MX$1,547

-25.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 $284

$963 MX$16.8K

-70.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$231 $231

$465 MX$8,086

-50.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 $428

$1,596 MX$27.8K

-73.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$328 $328

$1,209 MX$21.0K

-72.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$656 $656

$3,942 MX$68.6K

-83.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$507 $507

$6,448 MX$112.2K

-92.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$454 $454

$720 MX$12.5K

-37.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

-12.43%

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

Last update for Loja: April 28, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $284 in Loja versus $963 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 59% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $20.00 in Loja versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $161 vs $251 – making Loja 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

Loja vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $749 in Loja, $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 72% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,123 per month in Loja and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Loja, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 50% less in Loja. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $178 per month in Loja and $198 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Loja, where all-in costs run around $749, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Loja it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $749 in Loja to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Loja. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.