🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $812 in Lopburi versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,257 in Lopburi versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,702 in Lopburi versus $3,065 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: Lopburi39% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lopburi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.37฿44.67
$11.73MX$203
-88.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.43฿406
$41.62MX$720
-70.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.75฿155
$10.64MX$184
-55.36%
Cappuccino
$1.22฿39.81
$3.52MX$60.9
-65.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.47
$1.51MX$26.12
-54.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32฿10.61
$0.97MX$16.84
-67.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.95฿63.7
$2.95MX$51.0
-33.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62฿118
$4.45MX$77.0
-18.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lopburi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26฿41.01
$1.38MX$23.93
-8.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46฿47.70
$1.89MX$32.72
-22.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.13฿36.87
$1.64MX$28.32
-31.10%
Eggs
$1.90฿62.1
$2.51MX$43.34
-24.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.22฿432
$8.34MX$144
58.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.83฿92.4
$8.34MX$144
-66.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.75฿351
$10.73MX$186
0.19%
Apples(1kg)
$1.40฿45.76
$2.60MX$45.04
-46.15%
Banana(1kg)
$0.80฿26.08
$1.46MX$25.20
-45.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.20฿39.14
$1.90MX$32.87
-36.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50฿48.99
$2.08MX$35.91
-27.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61฿52.5
$1.78MX$30.71
-9.55%
Onion(1kg)
$0.96฿31.49
$2.19MX$37.80
-56.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.76฿24.70
$1.04MX$17.99
-26.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42฿13.87
$1.08MX$18.62
-61.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60฿150
$4.08MX$70.6
12.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.49฿473
$10.32MX$178
40.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66฿54.3
$1.71MX$29.61
-2.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48฿114
$2.58MX$44.54
34.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Lopburi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.95฿31.08
$0.51MX$8.81
86.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.46MX$458
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.06฿34.57
$3.26MX$56.4
-67.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.70฿22.95
$2.49MX$43.09
-71.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.33฿174
$3.25MX$56.2
64.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35฿44.02
$1.31MX$22.61
3.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K฿642.2K
$30.3KMX$523.7K
-35.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.4K฿700.3K
$23.4KMX$405.3K
-8.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lopburi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$72.4฿2,366
$82.9MX$1,433
-12.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.01฿425
$22.22MX$384
-41.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.02฿294
$29.34MX$507
-69.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lopburi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.96฿1,599
$51.6MX$893
-5.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.30฿402
$18.32MX$317
-32.86%
Cinema Ticket
$7.57฿247
$5.07MX$87.6
49.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lopburi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$141฿4,597
$201MX$3,473
-29.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,142฿200.6K
$5,212MX$90.1K
17.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lopburi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.57฿639
$36.92MX$639
-46.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.87฿812
$39.79MX$688
-37.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.7฿2,015
$78.5MX$1,357
-21.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.7฿1,853
$87.1MX$1,506
-34.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lopburi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$416฿13.6K
$973MX$16.8K
-57.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$290฿9,463
$468MX$8,090
-38.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$820฿26.8K
$1,641MX$28.4K
-50.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$656฿21.4K
$1,221MX$21.1K
-46.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,225฿72.7K
$3,946MX$68.3K
-43.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,472฿48.1K
$6,498MX$112.4K
-77.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lopburi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$664MX$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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $416 in Lopburi and $973 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 $209 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 60% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,217 in Lopburi 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 Lopburi and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $416 in Lopburi 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 kindergarten?
Childcare runs $141 in Lopburi versus $201 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 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 Lopburi or Playa del Carmen?
At $812 in Lopburi versus $1,297 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 60% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.