Cost of Living Comparison Between Lowell, MA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Lowell, MA and Playa del Carmen

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Lowell, MA is 37.3% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 110.5% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Lowell, MA is 41.7% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 94% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Lowell, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.32 $19.32
$11.73 MX$222
64.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.9 $80.9
$41.52 MX$785
94.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.94 $8.94
$10.57 MX$200
-15.42%
Cappuccino
$4.56 $4.56
$3.49 MX$65.9
30.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.45 MX$27.33
40.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$0.97 MX$18.33
76.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$3.03 MX$57.2
92.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.72 $7.72
$4.59 MX$86.8
68.19%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Lowell, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.42 MX$26.87
-38.73%
White Bread (500g)
$2.16 $2.16
$1.87 MX$35.43
15.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.05 $3.05
$1.54 MX$29.2
98.05%
Eggs
$4.06 $4.06
$2.6 MX$49.21
56.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.67 $10.67
$8.32 MX$157
28.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9 $9
$8.54 MX$161
5.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.55 $21.55
$10.67 MX$202
101.97%
Apples (1kg)
$2.8 $2.8
$2.66 MX$50.2
5.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.51 MX$28.5
-21.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.67 $5.67
$1.9 MX$35.87
198.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.8 $5.8
$2.19 MX$41.45
164.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.68 $1.68
$1.78 MX$33.7
-5.62%
Onion (1kg)
$4.47 $4.47
$2.17 MX$41.05
105.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.05 $3.05
$1.07 MX$20.14
185.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.28 $2.28
$1.09 MX$20.53
109.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.79 $10.79
$4.17 MX$78.8
158.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.43 $13.43
$8.75 MX$165
53.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.69 MX$31.91
4.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.53 MX$47.74
-22.13%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Lowell, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.79 $1.79
$0.51 MX$9.59
250.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.1 $55.1
$26.97 MX$510
104.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.95 $3.95
$3.25 MX$61.4
21.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.79 $1.79
$2.49 MX$47.01
-28.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.63 $29.63
$3.22 MX$60.8
820.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.26 MX$23.87
-31.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K $30.1K
$29.8K MX$564.1K
0.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$23.4K MX$442.5K
12.91%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lowell, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 $189
$84.2 MX$1,592
124.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.7 $51.7
$22.8 MX$431
126.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.2 $64.2
$30.04 MX$568
113.65%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Lowell, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.56 $40.56
$51.4 MX$972
-21.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.28 MX$346
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.05 $14.05
$4.97 MX$94.1
182.70%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Lowell, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,410 $1,410
$197 MX$3,719
616.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.8K $23.8K
$5,254 MX$99.3K
352.95%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Lowell, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6 $52.6
$35.81 MX$677
46.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.27 $32.27
$39.43 MX$745
-18.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.1 $67.1
$80.9 MX$1,529
-17.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.4 $70.4
$86.3 MX$1,631
-18.46%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Lowell, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,682 $1,682
$968 MX$18.3K
73.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,456 $1,456
$478 MX$9,037
204.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,738 $3,738
$1,631 MX$30.8K
129.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,088 $3,088
$1,197 MX$22.6K
158.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,483 $3,483
$3,137 MX$59.3K
11.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,399 $2,399
$7,586 MX$143.4K
-68.38%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Lowell, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,006 $4,006
$805 MX$15.2K
397.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
11.42
-43.52%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lowell, MA: November 4, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: November 2, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter โ€“ low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.