🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,244 in Lushnje versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,889 in Lushnje versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,534 in Lushnje versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Lushnje costs roughly 3% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Lushnje7% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.90ALL 972
$11.94MX$209
-0.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.0ALL 4,734
$42.75MX$748
35.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.57ALL 781
$10.59MX$185
-9.63%
Cappuccino
$1.99ALL 163
$3.62MX$63.4
-45.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87ALL 153
$1.47MX$25.69
27.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91ALL 74.1
$0.94MX$16.51
-3.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03ALL 247
$3.09MX$54.1
-1.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.24ALL 346
$4.46MX$78.0
-4.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.07ALL 169
$1.43MX$24.94
44.76%
White Bread(500g)
$1.13ALL 92.7
$1.88MX$32.97
-39.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16ALL 176
$1.63MX$28.50
32.52%
Eggs
$3.95ALL 323
$2.64MX$46.26
49.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.04ALL 1,065
$8.21MX$144
58.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.54ALL 615
$8.29MX$145
-9.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.46ALL 1,262
$11.10MX$194
39.28%
Apples(1kg)
$1.78ALL 145
$2.65MX$46.40
-32.83%
Banana(1kg)
$2.78ALL 227
$1.50MX$26.26
85.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98ALL 162
$1.99MX$34.79
-0.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99ALL 162
$2.08MX$36.33
-4.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.36ALL 111
$1.79MX$31.29
-24.02%
Onion(1kg)
$1.33ALL 109
$2.18MX$38.09
-38.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51ALL 123
$1.08MX$18.84
39.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75ALL 61.5
$1.04MX$18.15
-27.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22ALL 345
$3.97MX$69.5
6.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.40ALL 849
$10.20MX$179
1.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58ALL 129
$1.73MX$30.22
-8.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09ALL 171
$2.50MX$43.71
-16.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.46ALL 37.54
$0.52MX$9.07
-11.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.57ALL 1,516
$26.97MX$472
-31.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.56ALL 291
$3.14MX$55.0
13.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.19ALL 260
$2.40MX$42.04
32.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.81ALL 1,454
$3.09MX$54.0
476.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.05ALL 167
$1.27MX$22.28
61.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.3KALL 3.3M
$30.9KMX$540.4K
30.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0KALL 2.9M
$23.3KMX$408.0K
50.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$107ALL 8,719
$82.0MX$1,435
30.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.98ALL 1,468
$22.45MX$393
-19.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.75ALL 1,531
$29.66MX$519
-36.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.1ALL 4,498
$51.9MX$908
6.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.56ALL 2,087
$18.67MX$327
36.90%
Cinema Ticket
$9.46ALL 773
$4.97MX$87.0
90.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$161ALL 13.1K
$198MX$3,462
-18.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,615ALL 458.4K
$5,273MX$92.3K
6.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.6ALL 5,518
$36.34MX$636
85.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.4ALL 4,112
$40.05MX$701
25.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108ALL 8,828
$79.9MX$1,398
35.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129ALL 10.5K
$88.9MX$1,555
45.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$445ALL 36.4K
$963MX$16.9K
-53.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$346ALL 28.3K
$465MX$8,133
-25.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$620ALL 50.6K
$1,596MX$27.9K
-61.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$430ALL 35.1K
$1,209MX$21.2K
-64.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,037ALL 166.3K
$3,942MX$69.0K
-48.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,224ALL 99.9K
$6,448MX$112.8K
-81.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$604ALL 49.3K
$720MX$12.6K
-16.17%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $445 in Lushnje and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 19% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $278 vs $251 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 3% 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 19% 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: $445 in Lushnje versus $963 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 $58.0 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 $1,244 per month in Lushnje versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – a 3% 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 $1,244 in Lushnje versus $1,287 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 $1,244 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 3% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.