🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,225 in Lushnje versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,888 in Lushnje versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,551 in Lushnje versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Lushnje costs roughly 4% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Lushnje9% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.80ALL 964
$11.87MX$204
-0.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.2ALL 4,834
$42.90MX$736
37.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.51ALL 777
$10.65MX$183
-10.70%
Cappuccino
$2.07ALL 169
$3.45MX$59.2
-40.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90ALL 155
$1.50MX$25.81
26.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96ALL 78.8
$0.95MX$16.28
1.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.99ALL 244
$3.03MX$51.9
-1.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16ALL 340
$4.61MX$79.1
-9.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.04ALL 167
$1.38MX$23.61
47.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.14ALL 93.0
$1.85MX$31.70
-38.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.15ALL 176
$1.61MX$27.65
33.54%
Eggs
$3.82ALL 312
$2.59MX$44.51
47.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.21ALL 1,080
$8.26MX$142
59.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70ALL 629
$8.37MX$144
-8.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.94ALL 1,302
$10.66MX$183
49.53%
Apples(1kg)
$1.71ALL 140
$2.63MX$45.12
-34.98%
Banana(1kg)
$2.80ALL 229
$1.49MX$25.53
87.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02ALL 165
$1.92MX$32.94
5.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.91ALL 156
$2.09MX$35.81
-8.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.30ALL 107
$1.86MX$31.88
-30.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.33ALL 109
$2.26MX$38.81
-41.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.52ALL 124
$1.06MX$18.23
43.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74ALL 60.5
$1.09MX$18.67
-32.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30ALL 351
$4.15MX$71.2
3.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.72ALL 876
$10.39MX$178
3.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63ALL 134
$1.72MX$29.59
-5.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14ALL 175
$2.61MX$44.85
-18.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.45ALL 36.52
$0.54MX$9.30
-16.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.50ALL 1,511
$26.94MX$462
-31.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.54ALL 289
$3.13MX$53.7
13.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.17ALL 259
$2.51MX$43.09
26.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.53ALL 1,433
$3.15MX$54.1
456.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07ALL 169
$1.27MX$21.88
62.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.7KALL 3.3M
$30.4KMX$521.3K
33.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.2KALL 3.0M
$23.6KMX$404.5K
53.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$108ALL 8,843
$83.0MX$1,425
30.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.18ALL 1,485
$22.71MX$390
-19.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.19ALL 1,486
$29.46MX$506
-38.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.7ALL 4,549
$51.0MX$875
9.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.60ALL 2,091
$18.33MX$315
39.66%
Cinema Ticket
$9.32ALL 762
$4.93MX$84.5
89.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$159ALL 13.0K
$197MX$3,386
-19.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,612ALL 458.5K
$5,280MX$90.6K
6.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.8ALL 5,543
$36.90MX$633
83.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.6ALL 4,136
$39.89MX$685
26.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106ALL 8,666
$80.0MX$1,373
32.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131ALL 10.7K
$89.5MX$1,536
46.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$452ALL 36.9K
$956MX$16.4K
-52.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$343ALL 28.0K
$477MX$8,189
-28.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$612ALL 50.0K
$1,646MX$28.3K
-62.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$432ALL 35.3K
$1,225MX$21.0K
-64.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,110ALL 172.4K
$3,918MX$67.2K
-46.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,459ALL 119.2K
$6,459MX$110.9K
-77.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$595ALL 48.6K
$667MX$11.4K
-10.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.52
11.42
-51.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lushnje: June 9, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $452 in Lushnje and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 12% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $59.0 in Lushnje vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $280 vs $250 per month, with Playa del Carmen 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
Lushnje vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lushnje or Playa del Carmen?
Lushnje wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lushnje the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lushnje or Playa del Carmen?
On paper, Playa del Carmen earns 12% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lushnje vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $452 in Lushnje versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Lushnje vs Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Lushnje – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Lushnje compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,225 per month in Lushnje versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lushnje or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,225 in Lushnje versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Lushnje but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Lushnje the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lushnje or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lushnje delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,225 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lushnje hard to pass up.
How safe is Lushnje compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Lushnje 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lushnje gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.