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 17.5% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 22.9% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Luang Prabang is 11.9% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 4.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Luang Prabang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.9 LAK 40.8K
$11.99 MX$227
-84.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.95 LAK 385.2K
$42.47 MX$803
-57.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.43 LAK 116.6K
$10.47 MX$198
-48.14%
Cappuccino
$1.63 LAK 35K
$3.6 MX$68.2
-54.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 LAK 19K
$1.44 MX$27.16
-38.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.6 LAK 12.8K
$0.89 MX$16.79
-32.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.37 LAK 29.3K
$3.09 MX$58.5
-55.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 LAK 24.7K
$4.58 MX$86.6
-74.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Luang Prabang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 LAK 37.7K
$1.38 MX$26.04
27.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.12 LAK 24K
$1.85 MX$34.9
-39.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 LAK 48.1K
$1.57 MX$29.68
42.68%
Eggs
$2.44 LAK 52.5K
$2.55 MX$48.3
-4.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$25.82 LAK 554.2K
$8.61 MX$163
199.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.6 LAK 55.8K
$8.54 MX$161
-69.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.49 LAK 96.3K
$10.98 MX$208
-59.11%
Apples (1kg)
$1.36 LAK 29.1K
$2.72 MX$51.4
-50.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.22 LAK 47.7K
$1.51 MX$28.57
47.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 LAK 47.5K
$1.88 MX$35.63
17.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.44 LAK 95.2K
$2.19 MX$41.42
102.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.44 LAK 30.9K
$1.87 MX$35.3
-22.99%
Onion (1kg)
$0.95 LAK 20.4K
$2.19 MX$41.37
-56.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 LAK 22.5K
$1.07 MX$20.23
-1.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 LAK 16.3K
$1.09 MX$20.64
-30.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.97 LAK 42.3K
$3.96 MX$74.9
-50.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$29.5 LAK 633.1K
$8.86 MX$167
232.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 LAK 26K
$1.72 MX$32.53
-29.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 LAK 18.8K
$2.61 MX$49.37
-66.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Luang Prabang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.62 LAK 13.3K
$0.52 MX$9.74
19.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$58.8 LAK 1.3M
$26.59 MX$503
121.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.9 LAK 19.3K
$3.24 MX$61.2
-72.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.17 LAK 25.1K
$2.38 MX$44.94
-50.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.58 LAK 98.2K
$3.11 MX$58.7
47.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 LAK 24.7K
$1.31 MX$24.85
-12.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2K LAK 627.7M
$30.3K MX$573K
-3.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7K LAK 637.3M
$24K MX$453.6K
23.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Luang Prabang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86 LAK 1.8M
$84.2 MX$1,592
2.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.37 LAK 115.2K
$22.14 MX$419
-75.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.01 LAK 150.4K
$30.14 MX$570
-76.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Luang Prabang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$84 LAK 1.8M
$52 MX$983
61.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.94 LAK 170.3K
$18.72 MX$354
-57.59%
Cinema Ticket
$2.47 LAK 53K
$5.07 MX$95.9
-51.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Luang Prabang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$254 LAK 5.4M
$200 MX$3,787
26.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,278 LAK 199.1M
$5,333 MX$100.8K
73.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Luang Prabang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.4 LAK 1.6M
$35.74 MX$676
102.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.7 LAK 1.3M
$39.8 MX$753
52.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.6 LAK 1.6M
$79 MX$1,493
-5.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.8 LAK 1.2M
$88.4 MX$1,671
-39.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Luang Prabang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,145 LAK 24.6M
$965 MX$18.3K
18.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$838 LAK 18M
$474 MX$8,968
76.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,929 LAK 41.4M
$1,653 MX$31.2K
16.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,672 LAK 35.9M
$1,202 MX$22.7K
39.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,606 LAK 55.9M
$3,081 MX$58.3K
-15.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$144 LAK 3.1M
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-98.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Luang Prabang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$199 LAK 4.3M
$792 MX$15K
-74.83%
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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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