🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,216 in Lyubertsy versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,845 in Lyubertsy versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,474 in Lyubertsy versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Lyubertsy costs roughly 5% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Lyubertsy9% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lyubertsy
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.94₽972
$11.94MX$208
8.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.06₽3,085
$42.75MX$744
-3.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.18₽464
$10.59MX$184
-41.64%
Cappuccino
$2.51₽188
$3.62MX$63.0
-30.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₽55.5
$1.47MX$25.54
-49.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29₽21.60
$0.94MX$16.41
-69.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.43₽108
$3.09MX$53.8
-53.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22₽167
$4.46MX$77.6
-50.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lyubertsy
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34₽101
$1.43MX$24.80
-6.29%
White Bread(500g)
$0.82₽61.8
$1.88MX$32.79
-56.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71₽128
$1.63MX$28.34
4.91%
Eggs
$1.85₽139
$2.64MX$45.99
-29.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.15₽988
$8.21MX$143
60.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.01₽452
$8.29MX$144
-27.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.34₽927
$11.10MX$193
11.17%
Apples(1kg)
$1.88₽141
$2.65MX$46.14
-29.06%
Banana(1kg)
$2.03₽153
$1.50MX$26.11
35.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.36₽177
$1.99MX$34.59
18.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.97₽299
$2.08MX$36.13
90.87%
Potato(1kg)
$0.98₽73.8
$1.79MX$31.11
-45.25%
Onion(1kg)
$0.78₽58.9
$2.18MX$37.87
-64.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.62₽122
$1.08MX$18.73
50.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79₽59.7
$1.04MX$18.04
-24.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.15₽237
$3.97MX$69.1
-20.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.41₽406
$10.20MX$178
-46.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13₽84.6
$1.73MX$30.04
-34.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44₽183
$2.50MX$43.46
-2.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Lyubertsy
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60₽44.77
$0.52MX$9.02
15.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.62₽1,249
$26.97MX$469
-38.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.56₽193
$3.14MX$54.7
-18.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.48₽35.90
$2.40MX$41.80
-80.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.15₽612
$3.09MX$53.7
163.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81₽60.9
$1.27MX$22.16
-36.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.6K₽2.9M
$30.9KMX$537.3K
24.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.4K₽2.7M
$23.3KMX$405.7K
56.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lyubertsy
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$153₽11.5K
$82.0MX$1,427
86.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.34₽551
$22.45MX$391
-67.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.98₽599
$29.66MX$516
-73.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lyubertsy
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.69₽2,381
$51.9MX$903
-38.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.91₽1,872
$18.67MX$325
33.42%
Cinema Ticket
$5.82₽437
$4.97MX$86.5
17.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lyubertsy
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$699₽52.5K
$198MX$3,442
253.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.2K₽1.1M
$5,273MX$91.7K
168.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lyubertsy
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2₽6,475
$36.34MX$632
137.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.7₽3,883
$40.05MX$697
29.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$132₽9,890
$79.9MX$1,390
64.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$159₽11.9K
$88.9MX$1,547
78.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lyubertsy
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$500₽37.6K
$963MX$16.8K
-48.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$398₽29.9K
$465MX$8,086
-14.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$752₽56.5K
$1,596MX$27.8K
-52.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$641₽48.1K
$1,209MX$21.0K
-47.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,962₽147.4K
$3,942MX$68.6K
-50.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,742₽130.9K
$6,448MX$112.2K
-72.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lyubertsy
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655₽49.2K
$720MX$12.5K
-9.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.5
11.42
18.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lyubertsy: April 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Lyubertsy and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 10% 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: $41.00 in Lyubertsy vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $251 per month, with Lyubertsy cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Lyubertsy vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lyubertsy and Playa del Carmen?
Lyubertsy and Playa del Carmen differ by about 6% in total monthly costs ($1,216 vs $1,287 including rent). Lyubertsy is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Playa del Carmen earns 10% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lyubertsy and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Lyubertsy versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Lyubertsy – a meal for two runs $41.00 versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,216 in Lyubertsy versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lyubertsy but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Lyubertsy the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lyubertsy and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Lyubertsy or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Lyubertsy gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.