Cost of Living Comparison Between Luang Prabang and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Luang Prabang and Playa del Carmen

🙂 Solo nomad: Luang Prabang is 6% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 25.8% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Luang Prabang is 27.1% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 6.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Luang Prabang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.85 LAK 39.9K
$11.85 MX$205
-84.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.59 LAK 380.2K
$42.16 MX$730
-58.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.47 LAK 118.3K
$10.75 MX$186
-49.12%
Cappuccino
$1.63 LAK 35.3K
$3.47 MX$60.2
-53.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 LAK 20.2K
$1.45 MX$25.17
-35.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 LAK 12.0K
$0.90 MX$15.64
-37.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.35 LAK 29.2K
$3.05 MX$52.9
-55.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19 LAK 25.8K
$4.42 MX$76.5
-73.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Luang Prabang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 LAK 37.0K
$1.37 MX$23.72
24.82%
White Bread (500g)
$1.12 LAK 24.1K
$1.87 MX$32.43
-40.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.15 LAK 46.4K
$1.54 MX$26.74
39.61%
Eggs
$2.39 LAK 51.6K
$2.50 MX$43.36
-4.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.97 LAK 539.6K
$8.61 MX$149
190.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.58 LAK 55.7K
$8.63 MX$150
-70.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.40 LAK 95.1K
$11.02 MX$191
-60.07%
Apples (1kg)
$1.41 LAK 30.5K
$2.75 MX$47.62
-48.73%
Banana (1kg)
$2.23 LAK 48.1K
$1.43 MX$24.73
55.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 LAK 46.9K
$1.87 MX$32.44
16.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.44 LAK 95.9K
$2.17 MX$37.54
104.61%
Potato (1kg)
$1.50 LAK 32.4K
$1.88 MX$32.61
-20.21%
Onion (1kg)
$1.01 LAK 21.8K
$2.25 MX$38.91
-55.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 LAK 22.9K
$1.07 MX$18.49
-0.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 LAK 15.4K
$1.07 MX$18.59
-33.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.97 LAK 42.6K
$4.15 MX$72.0
-52.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$29.53 LAK 638.1K
$10.34 MX$179
185.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 LAK 27.1K
$1.68 MX$29.08
-25.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 LAK 18.7K
$2.48 MX$43.02
-64.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Luang Prabang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.61 LAK 13.2K
$0.55 MX$9.61
10.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$61.2 LAK 1.3M
$26.53 MX$459
130.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.94 LAK 20.4K
$3.22 MX$55.7
-70.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.12 LAK 24.2K
$2.48 MX$42.98
-54.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.71 LAK 101.8K
$3.11 MX$53.9
51.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 LAK 23.8K
$1.26 MX$21.75
-12.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K LAK 612.6M
$30.7K MX$531.0K
-7.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7K LAK 640.9M
$24.0K MX$416.4K
23.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Luang Prabang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.7 LAK 1.9M
$82.5 MX$1,429
3.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.40 LAK 116.7K
$22.29 MX$386
-75.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.08 LAK 153.1K
$30.02 MX$520
-76.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Luang Prabang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$84.1 LAK 1.8M
$51.4 MX$891
63.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.77 LAK 168.0K
$18.29 MX$317
-57.52%
Cinema Ticket
$2.56 LAK 55.3K
$4.98 MX$86.3
-48.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Luang Prabang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$255 LAK 5.5M
$200 MX$3,464
27.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,236 LAK 199.6M
$5,304 MX$91.9K
74.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Luang Prabang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.0 LAK 1.6M
$35.71 MX$618
101.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.9 LAK 1.3M
$39.56 MX$685
56.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.3 LAK 1.6M
$80.6 MX$1,395
-7.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.1 LAK 1.1M
$88.3 MX$1,530
-39.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Luang Prabang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,138 LAK 24.6M
$969 MX$16.8K
17.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$865 LAK 18.7M
$482 MX$8,352
79.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,893 LAK 40.9M
$1,595 MX$27.6K
18.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,701 LAK 36.8M
$1,184 MX$20.5K
43.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,645 LAK 57.2M
$4,050 MX$70.1K
-34.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$137 LAK 3.0M
$6,522 MX$113.0K
-97.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Luang Prabang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$198 LAK 4.3M
$756 MX$13.1K
-73.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.12
11.42
-11.38%

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

Last update for Luang Prabang: March 2, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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