🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,263 in Lushnje versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,888 in Lushnje versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,514 in Lushnje versus $3,362 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Lushnje costs roughly 3% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Lushnje8% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.88ALL 780
$11.96MX$203
-17.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.9ALL 4,174
$47.38MX$804
11.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.50ALL 908
$11.75MX$199
-2.13%
Cappuccino
$2.39ALL 189
$4.12MX$70.0
-41.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41ALL 190
$1.40MX$23.74
72.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27ALL 100
$0.91MX$15.48
39.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.69ALL 292
$3.21MX$54.4
14.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08ALL 322
$7.07MX$120
-42.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.30ALL 182
$1.68MX$28.44
36.90%
White Bread(500g)
$1.28ALL 101
$2.15MX$36.48
-40.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.42ALL 191
$1.77MX$30.10
36.72%
Eggs
$3.87ALL 306
$2.82MX$47.76
37.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.69ALL 1,081
$9.20MX$156
48.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.48ALL 749
$9.23MX$157
2.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.26ALL 1,363
$12.64MX$214
36.55%
Apples(1kg)
$1.94ALL 153
$2.95MX$50.1
-34.24%
Banana(1kg)
$2.48ALL 196
$1.58MX$26.79
56.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20ALL 174
$2.22MX$37.70
-0.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.86ALL 147
$2.36MX$40.09
-21.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.04ALL 82.4
$1.99MX$33.81
-47.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.27ALL 100
$1.98MX$33.58
-35.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.42ALL 112
$1.24MX$21.04
14.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76ALL 60.0
$1.21MX$20.55
-37.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.84ALL 382
$4.60MX$78.1
5.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13ALL 879
$10.52MX$178
5.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82ALL 143
$1.69MX$28.70
7.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13ALL 168
$2.77MX$47.06
-23.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51ALL 40.42
$0.60MX$10.22
-15.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.36ALL 1,608
$29.70MX$504
-31.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.67ALL 290
$5.24MX$88.8
-29.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.71ALL 293
$3.65MX$61.9
1.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.55ALL 1,465
$5.78MX$98.1
220.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.37ALL 188
$1.54MX$26.09
53.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4KALL 2.7M
$22.8KMX$386.8K
50.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.2KALL 2.9M
$25.8KMX$437.9K
40.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104ALL 8,242
$90.7MX$1,538
15.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.89ALL 1,492
$25.19MX$427
-25.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.61ALL 1,628
$31.75MX$539
-35.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0ALL 4,583
$68.8MX$1,167
-15.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.37MX$498
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.94ALL 785
$4.86MX$82.5
104.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$358ALL 28.3K
$226MX$3,828
58.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,359ALL 660.2K
$4,194MX$71.1K
99.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.0ALL 3,950
$47.38MX$804
5.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.35ALL 3,740
$43.45MX$737
8.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124ALL 9,821
$80.2MX$1,361
55.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113ALL 8,928
$91.4MX$1,550
23.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$489ALL 38.6K
$1,086MX$18.4K
-54.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$338ALL 26.7K
$409MX$6,933
-17.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$734ALL 58.0K
$1,972MX$33.5K
-62.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$483ALL 38.2K
$1,281MX$21.7K
-62.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,899ALL 150.0K
$4,046MX$68.6K
-53.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,241ALL 98.0K
$6,704MX$113.7K
-81.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lushnje
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624ALL 49.2K
$773MX$13.1K
-19.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.64
11.45
-50.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lushnje: September 5, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $489 in Lushnje and $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 24% 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: $53.0 in Lushnje vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $300 vs $278 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 in Playa del Carmen?
On paper, salaries run 24% 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: $489 in Lushnje versus $1,086 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 $53.0 versus $47.00 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 $1,263 per month in Lushnje versus $1,305 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 in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,263 in Lushnje versus $1,305 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 $1,263 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.