😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,440 in Lomza versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,091 in Lomza versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,742 in Lomza versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Lomza is roughly 15% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lomza is 8% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lomza
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.52zł 36.14
$11.99MX$209
-20.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.42zł 153
$41.78MX$728
-3.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.99zł 30.30
$10.75MX$187
-25.67%
Cappuccino
$3.08zł 11.69
$3.50MX$60.9
-12.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18zł 8.28
$1.45MX$25.22
50.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70zł 6.45
$0.88MX$15.41
93.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92zł 11.06
$2.95MX$51.3
-1.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58zł 13.57
$4.51MX$78.6
-20.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lomza
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05zł 3.97
$1.43MX$24.94
-26.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.28zł 4.86
$1.84MX$31.99
-30.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.59zł 6.05
$1.57MX$27.31
1.27%
Eggs
$3.30zł 12.51
$2.51MX$43.74
31.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.88zł 29.92
$8.28MX$144
-4.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.29zł 23.86
$8.43MX$147
-25.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.95zł 37.75
$10.68MX$186
-6.84%
Apples(1kg)
$1.14zł 4.31
$2.61MX$45.43
-56.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.54zł 5.83
$1.44MX$25.04
6.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62zł 6.15
$1.96MX$34.16
-17.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.49zł 9.43
$2.09MX$36.47
19.14%
Potato(1kg)
$0.92zł 3.48
$1.85MX$32.24
-50.27%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20zł 4.56
$2.17MX$37.74
-44.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30zł 4.92
$1.03MX$17.96
26.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61zł 2.30
$1.07MX$18.70
-42.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.42zł 20.55
$4.10MX$71.4
32.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.01zł 26.61
$10.17MX$177
-31.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01zł 3.83
$1.68MX$29.17
-39.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79zł 6.81
$2.53MX$43.98
-29.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Lomza
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.07zł 4.07
$0.51MX$8.87
109.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.04zł 122
$26.04MX$453
23.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.12zł 8.03
$3.23MX$56.3
-34.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.83zł 3.15
$2.41MX$41.88
-65.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.53zł 39.97
$3.23MX$56.2
226.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.78zł 6.74
$1.32MX$23.00
34.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5Kzł 130.8K
$29.7KMX$517.1K
16.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5Kzł 115.9K
$23.7KMX$412.0K
29.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lomza
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$292zł 1,107
$82.0MX$1,428
255.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.76zł 29.43
$22.95MX$400
-66.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.42zł 62.3
$30.11MX$524
-45.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lomza
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.88zł 140
$52.0MX$905
-29.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.89zł 75.5
$18.53MX$323
7.34%
Cinema Ticket
$8.91zł 33.81
$4.98MX$86.6
78.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lomza
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$516zł 1,959
$197MX$3,438
161.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,860zł 18.4K
$5,336MX$92.9K
-8.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lomza
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.3zł 346
$35.60MX$620
156.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.90zł 170
$40.33MX$702
11.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101zł 382
$78.8MX$1,371
27.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124zł 471
$88.9MX$1,549
39.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lomza
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$648zł 2,458
$947MX$16.5K
-31.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$486zł 1,845
$474MX$8,254
2.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$965zł 3,662
$1,644MX$28.6K
-41.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$830zł 3,149
$1,211MX$21.1K
-31.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,430zł 13.0K
$4,056MX$70.6K
-15.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,593zł 9,837
$6,470MX$112.7K
-59.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lomza
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$654MX$11.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.28
11.42
-45.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lomza: July 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $648 in Lomza and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $40.00 in Lomza vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $202 vs $249 per month, with Lomza 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
Lomza vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Lomza?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,159 in Lomza and $1,884 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.
What is the rent difference between Lomza and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $648 in Lomza versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 23% less than in Lomza. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $516 in Lomza versus $197 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Lomza or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,440 in Lomza, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Lomza. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lomza or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lomza, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lomza or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Lomza 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Lomza. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.