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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $791 in Lopburi versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,278 in Lopburi versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,764 in Lopburi versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Lopburi costs roughly 37% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lopburi 41% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lopburi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.36 ฿45.72
$11.99 MX$210
-88.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.22 ฿411
$41.78 MX$733
-70.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.72 ฿159
$10.75 MX$189
-56.09%
Cappuccino
$1.25 ฿42.05
$3.50 MX$61.3
-64.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.58
$1.45 MX$25.41
-55.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 ฿10.93
$0.88 MX$15.52
-63.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.98 ฿66.7
$2.95 MX$51.7
-32.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿126
$4.51 MX$79.1
-17.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lopburi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿42.07
$1.43 MX$25.12
-12.59%
White Bread (500g)
$1.49 ฿50.1
$1.84 MX$32.23
-19.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.08 ฿36.50
$1.57 MX$27.51
-31.21%
Eggs
$1.83 ฿61.5
$2.51 MX$44.06
-27.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.14 ฿442
$8.28 MX$145
58.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.71 ฿91.3
$8.43 MX$148
-67.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.71 ฿360
$10.68 MX$187
0.28%
Apples (1kg)
$1.37 ฿46.11
$2.61 MX$45.76
-47.51%
Banana (1kg)
$0.76 ฿25.49
$1.44 MX$25.22
-47.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.20 ฿40.26
$1.96 MX$34.41
-38.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.58 ฿53.0
$2.09 MX$36.74
-24.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.7
$1.85 MX$32.47
-8.65%
Onion (1kg)
$0.93 ฿31.42
$2.17 MX$38.02
-57.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.78 ฿26.32
$1.03 MX$18.09
-24.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45 ฿15.25
$1.07 MX$18.84
-57.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58 ฿154
$4.10 MX$72.0
11.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.43 ฿485
$10.17 MX$178
41.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 ฿58.0
$1.68 MX$29.38
2.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51 ฿118
$2.53 MX$44.31
38.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Lopburi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿29.70
$0.51 MX$8.93
72.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.04 MX$457
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.05 ฿35.38
$3.23 MX$56.7
-67.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.75 ฿25.33
$2.41 MX$42.19
-68.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.48 ฿184
$3.23 MX$56.6
69.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 ฿43.64
$1.32 MX$23.17
-1.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K ฿664.3K
$29.7K MX$520.9K
-33.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.4K ฿719.8K
$23.7K MX$415.0K
-9.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lopburi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.4 ฿2,471
$82.0 MX$1,439
-10.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.93 ฿435
$22.95 MX$403
-43.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.34 ฿314
$30.11 MX$528
-68.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lopburi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.09 ฿1,652
$52.0 MX$912
-5.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.35 ฿415
$18.53 MX$325
-33.35%
Cinema Ticket
$7.61 ฿256
$4.98 MX$87.3
52.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lopburi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$137 ฿4,595
$197 MX$3,463
-30.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,180 ฿207.9K
$5,336 MX$93.6K
15.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lopburi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.69 ฿663
$35.60 MX$624
-44.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.62 ฿829
$40.33 MX$707
-38.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.6 ฿2,038
$78.8 MX$1,381
-23.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.1 ฿1,923
$88.9 MX$1,560
-35.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lopburi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$429 ฿14.4K
$947 MX$16.6K
-54.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$282 ฿9,499
$474 MX$8,314
-40.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$813 ฿27.4K
$1,644 MX$28.8K
-50.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$653 ฿22.0K
$1,211 MX$21.2K
-46.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,060 ฿69.3K
$4,056 MX$71.1K
-49.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,435 ฿48.3K
$6,470 MX$113.5K
-77.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lopburi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$654 MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.17
11.42
-45.97%

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

Last update for Lopburi: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $429 in Lopburi and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $12.00 in Lopburi vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $249 per month, with Lopburi 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
Lopburi vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Lopburi?
Lopburi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 59% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,187 in Lopburi 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 Lopburi and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $429 in Lopburi 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 kindergarten?
Childcare runs $137 in Lopburi versus $197 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Lopburi or in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Lopburi – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Lopburi or in Playa del Carmen?
At $791 in Lopburi versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Lopburi but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Lopburi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lopburi or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Lopburi is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lopburi or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Lopburi 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 Lopburi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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