😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,476 in Lomza versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,098 in Lomza versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,720 in Lomza versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Lomza is roughly 14% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lomza is 10% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lomza
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.48zł 34.56
$11.73MX$203
-19.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.65zł 148
$41.62MX$719
-2.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.16zł 29.75
$10.64MX$184
-23.31%
Cappuccino
$3.19zł 11.65
$3.52MX$60.8
-9.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12zł 7.72
$1.51MX$26.09
40.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63zł 5.95
$0.97MX$16.82
68.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.93zł 10.70
$2.95MX$51.0
-0.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59zł 13.08
$4.45MX$77.0
-19.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lomza
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05zł 3.83
$1.38MX$23.90
-23.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.23zł 4.49
$1.89MX$32.69
-34.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61zł 5.86
$1.64MX$28.29
-1.83%
Eggs
$3.38zł 12.33
$2.51MX$43.30
34.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.99zł 29.12
$8.34MX$144
-4.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.23zł 22.74
$8.34MX$144
-25.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.62zł 35.07
$10.73MX$185
-10.34%
Apples(1kg)
$1.14zł 4.17
$2.60MX$45.00
-56.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59zł 5.81
$1.46MX$25.18
8.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63zł 5.95
$1.90MX$32.84
-14.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.50zł 9.11
$2.08MX$35.88
20.19%
Potato(1kg)
$0.98zł 3.56
$1.78MX$30.68
-44.94%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19zł 4.34
$2.19MX$37.76
-45.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.31zł 4.76
$1.04MX$17.97
25.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65zł 2.36
$1.08MX$18.60
-39.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.21zł 18.99
$4.08MX$70.5
27.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.33zł 26.74
$10.32MX$178
-28.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07zł 3.89
$1.71MX$29.59
-37.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80zł 6.56
$2.58MX$44.50
-30.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Lomza
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.10zł 4.02
$0.51MX$8.81
115.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.16zł 117
$26.46MX$457
21.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.14zł 7.82
$3.26MX$56.4
-34.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.77zł 2.82
$2.49MX$43.05
-69.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.56zł 38.51
$3.25MX$56.1
224.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.79zł 6.52
$1.31MX$22.59
36.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8Kzł 123.1K
$30.3KMX$523.2K
11.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.7Kzł 112.0K
$23.4KMX$404.9K
31.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lomza
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$290zł 1,056
$82.9MX$1,432
249.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.64zł 27.87
$22.22MX$384
-65.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.02zł 58.4
$29.34MX$507
-45.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lomza
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.01zł 135
$51.6MX$892
-28.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.45zł 70.9
$18.32MX$317
6.17%
Cinema Ticket
$8.47zł 30.90
$5.07MX$87.5
67.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lomza
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$503zł 1,832
$201MX$3,470
150.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,707zł 17.2K
$5,212MX$90.1K
-9.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lomza
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.3zł 329
$36.92MX$638
144.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.63zł 163
$39.79MX$688
12.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102zł 373
$78.5MX$1,356
30.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125zł 456
$87.1MX$1,505
43.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lomza
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$650zł 2,370
$973MX$16.8K
-33.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$485zł 1,769
$468MX$8,082
3.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$971zł 3,542
$1,641MX$28.4K
-40.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$823zł 3,001
$1,221MX$21.1K
-32.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,137zł 11.4K
$3,946MX$68.2K
-20.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,130zł 7,765
$6,498MX$112.3K
-67.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lomza
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$664MX$11.5K
-
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: May 30, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $650 in Lomza and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $41.00 in Lomza vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 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 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,214 in Lomza and $1,945 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: $650 in Lomza versus $973 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 22% 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 $503 in Lomza versus $201 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 Lomza or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,476 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 14% less than in Lomza. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.