🙂A single person spends $327 per month in Masallatah vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $539 per month in Masallatah vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $751 per month in Masallatah vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Masallatah is about 75% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Masallatah and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Masallatah76% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Masallatah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.64LYD 29.53
$11.73MX$203
-60.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.71LYD 119
$41.62MX$721
-55.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.56LYD 22.67
$10.64MX$184
-66.54%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.53LYD 3.40
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67LYD 4.25
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.51LYD 3.26
$3.52MX$61.0
-85.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45LYD 2.89
$1.51MX$26.17
-70.20%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.12LYD 0.78
$0.97MX$16.87
-87.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.95MX$51.1
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.45MX$77.2
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Masallatah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.99LYD 6.27
$1.38MX$23.97
-28.26%
White Bread(500g)
$0.23LYD 1.47
$1.89MX$32.78
-87.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.25LYD 7.92
$1.64MX$28.37
-23.78%
Eggs
$1.50LYD 9.52
$2.51MX$43.42
-40.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.92LYD 31.30
$8.34MX$145
-41.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.28LYD 20.86
$8.34MX$145
-60.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.27LYD 65.3
$10.73MX$186
-4.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.21LYD 14.03
$2.60MX$45.12
-15.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.34LYD 8.55
$1.46MX$25.25
-8.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.76LYD 4.84
$1.90MX$32.94
-60.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.52LYD 3.30
$2.08MX$35.98
-75.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65LYD 4.15
$1.78MX$30.77
-63.48%
Onion(1kg)
$0.53LYD 3.34
$2.19MX$37.87
-75.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.39LYD 2.47
$1.04MX$18.02
-62.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.20LYD 1.27
$1.08MX$18.66
-81.48%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.24LYD 7.90
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.71LYD 4.54
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69LYD 4.39
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.81LYD 11.50
$4.08MX$70.7
-55.64%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.32MX$179
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.71MX$29.67
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.58MX$44.63
-
🚌 Getting Around
Masallatah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.51MX$8.83
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.46MX$459
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.96LYD 6.11
$3.26MX$56.5
-70.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.90LYD 5.70
$2.49MX$43.17
-63.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.63LYD 29.42
$3.25MX$56.3
42.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.03LYD 0.20
$1.31MX$22.65
-97.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.9KLYD 88.3K
$30.3KMX$524.7K
-54.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.4KLYD 104.4K
$23.4KMX$406.0K
-29.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Masallatah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$32.39LYD 206
$82.9MX$1,436
-60.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.32LYD 52.9
$22.22MX$385
-62.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.39LYD 149
$29.34MX$508
-20.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Masallatah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$51.6MX$895
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.62LYD 29.37
$5.07MX$87.8
-8.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Masallatah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$51.9LYD 330
$201MX$3,480
-74.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$916LYD 5,828
$5,212MX$90.3K
-82.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Masallatah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.61LYD 137
$36.92MX$640
-41.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.89LYD 222
$39.79MX$689
-12.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$50.4LYD 320
$78.5MX$1,360
-35.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.5LYD 353
$87.1MX$1,509
-36.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Masallatah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$973MX$16.9K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$468MX$8,105
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,641MX$28.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,221MX$21.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,946MX$68.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,498MX$112.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Masallatah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$664MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17.5
11.42
53.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Masallatah: May 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Masallatah versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $117 vs $249 – making Masallatah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Masallatah vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Masallatah?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 297%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $490 per month in Masallatah and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Masallatah vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $327 in Masallatah and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $51.9 per month in Masallatah and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Masallatah or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Masallatah, where all-in costs run around $327, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Masallatah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Masallatah or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Masallatah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Masallatah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Masallatah vs other spots: cost of living compared