🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,233 in Lushnje versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,852 in Lushnje versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,471 in Lushnje versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Lushnje costs roughly 2% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Lushnje7% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.91ALL 976
$11.72MX$204
1.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.0ALL 4,753
$41.89MX$731
38.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.39ALL 769
$10.51MX$183
-10.66%
Cappuccino
$2.00ALL 163
$3.59MX$62.5
-44.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83ALL 150
$1.51MX$26.31
21.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91ALL 74.2
$0.92MX$15.96
-1.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96ALL 242
$2.96MX$51.6
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03ALL 330
$4.41MX$76.9
-8.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.16ALL 177
$1.40MX$24.35
54.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.09ALL 89.3
$1.88MX$32.87
-42.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24ALL 184
$1.56MX$27.19
43.59%
Eggs
$3.92ALL 321
$2.61MX$45.50
50.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.99ALL 1,064
$8.32MX$145
56.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.65ALL 627
$8.35MX$146
-8.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.62ALL 1,280
$10.86MX$189
43.83%
Apples(1kg)
$1.70ALL 139
$2.71MX$47.31
-37.27%
Banana(1kg)
$2.69ALL 221
$1.51MX$26.25
78.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05ALL 168
$1.87MX$32.67
9.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00ALL 164
$2.19MX$38.19
-8.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.31ALL 107
$1.86MX$32.40
-29.57%
Onion(1kg)
$1.27ALL 104
$2.23MX$38.90
-43.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46ALL 120
$1.07MX$18.63
36.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75ALL 61.8
$1.09MX$18.94
-31.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16ALL 341
$4.19MX$73.0
-0.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.74ALL 880
$10.43MX$182
2.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58ALL 129
$1.66MX$28.91
-4.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13ALL 175
$2.61MX$45.56
-18.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.46ALL 37.37
$0.54MX$9.45
-14.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.01ALL 1,558
$26.16MX$456
-27.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.44ALL 282
$3.08MX$53.7
11.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.20ALL 262
$2.40MX$41.94
33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.35ALL 1,422
$3.13MX$54.5
454.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08ALL 171
$1.31MX$22.87
58.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.9KALL 3.3M
$29.8KMX$519.9K
33.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.1KALL 3.0M
$23.3KMX$406.8K
54.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$106ALL 8,679
$81.3MX$1,418
30.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.03ALL 1,477
$22.56MX$393
-20.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.24ALL 1,495
$30.05MX$524
-39.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.3ALL 4,528
$52.9MX$923
4.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.39ALL 2,081
$18.39MX$321
38.06%
Cinema Ticket
$9.69ALL 794
$4.92MX$85.8
96.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$158ALL 12.9K
$201MX$3,502
-21.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,538ALL 453.8K
$5,175MX$90.2K
7.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.4ALL 5,686
$35.92MX$627
93.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.0ALL 4,099
$40.13MX$700
24.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109ALL 8,963
$79.7MX$1,390
37.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128ALL 10.5K
$86.5MX$1,508
48.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$456ALL 37.3K
$978MX$17.1K
-53.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$340ALL 27.8K
$470MX$8,206
-27.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$612ALL 50.1K
$1,651MX$28.8K
-62.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$435ALL 35.6K
$1,203MX$21.0K
-63.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,786ALL 146.3K
$3,953MX$69.0K
-54.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,080ALL 88.5K
$6,607MX$115.2K
-83.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$605ALL 49.6K
$677MX$11.8K
-10.60%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $456 in Lushnje and $978 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: $58.0 in Lushnje vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $279 vs $252 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 2% 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 in Playa del Carmen?
On paper, salaries run 12% lower in Playa del Carmen. 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 compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $456 in Lushnje versus $978 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Lushnje – a meal for two runs $58.0 versus $42.00 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 $1,233 per month in Lushnje versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – a 2% 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 in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,233 in Lushnje versus $1,260 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 $1,233 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 2% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.