Cost of Living Comparison Between Masallatah and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Masallatah and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $365 per month in Masallatah vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $570 per month in Masallatah vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $775 per month in Masallatah vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Masallatah is about 71% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Masallatah and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Masallatah 73% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Masallatah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.05 LYD 25.69
$11.60 MX$200
-65.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.91 LYD 94.5
$47.11 MX$812
-68.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.57 LYD 16.28
$11.88 MX$205
-78.37%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.61 LYD 3.89
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 LYD 3.91
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.43 LYD 2.74
$3.98 MX$68.6
-89.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 LYD 2.65
$1.43 MX$24.60
-70.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.10 LYD 0.64
$0.82 MX$14.22
-87.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.19 MX$55.0
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$6.79 MX$117
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Masallatah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.90 LYD 5.72
$1.68 MX$28.89
-46.43%
White Bread (500g)
$0.22 LYD 1.40
$2.20 MX$37.88
-90.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 LYD 7.17
$1.71 MX$29.45
-33.92%
Eggs
$1.40 LYD 8.86
$2.74 MX$47.26
-48.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.94 LYD 31.31
$9.58 MX$165
-48.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.23 LYD 20.49
$9.01 MX$155
-64.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.83 LYD 62.3
$12.81 MX$221
-23.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 LYD 14.72
$2.89 MX$49.81
-19.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 LYD 9.57
$1.50 MX$25.81
0.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.75 LYD 4.77
$2.15 MX$37.03
-65.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.56 LYD 3.55
$2.26 MX$38.96
-75.22%
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 LYD 4.25
$1.98 MX$34.15
-66.16%
Onion (1kg)
$0.46 LYD 2.93
$1.99 MX$34.30
-76.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.43 LYD 2.73
$1.23 MX$21.28
-65.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.21 LYD 1.31
$1.20 MX$20.63
-82.50%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.77 LYD 11.23
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 LYD 6.58
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 LYD 5.11
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.02 LYD 12.83
$4.55 MX$78.5
-55.60%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$10.37 MX$179
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.62 MX$27.91
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.88 MX$49.67
-
🚌 Getting Around
Masallatah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.60 MX$10.35
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$28.80 MX$497
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.76 LYD 4.82
$5.39 MX$92.9
-85.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 LYD 2.86
$3.73 MX$64.3
-87.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$5.77 MX$99.5
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.02 LYD 0.12
$1.54 MX$26.48
-98.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2K LYD 147.3K
$22.5K MX$388.8K
3.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.4K LYD 91.0K
$26.1K MX$449.3K
-44.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Masallatah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.4 LYD 592
$91.4 MX$1,576
2.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.82 LYD 36.89
$25.20 MX$435
-76.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.21 LYD 172
$31.24 MX$539
-12.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Masallatah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$67.2 MX$1,159
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11 MX$502
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.86 MX$83.8
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Masallatah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$52.0 LYD 330
$224 MX$3,856
-76.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$625 LYD 3,959
$4,229 MX$72.9K
-85.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Masallatah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.14 LYD 134
$47.10 MX$812
-55.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.74 LYD 112
$44.29 MX$764
-59.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$55.6 LYD 352
$80.1 MX$1,381
-30.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.9 LYD 430
$92.7 MX$1,598
-26.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Masallatah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,063 MX$18.3K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$390 MX$6,728
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,149 MX$37.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,272 MX$21.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,001 MX$69.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,502 MX$112.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Masallatah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$758 MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
11.45
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Masallatah: September 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Masallatah versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $115 vs $276 – 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 247%, 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 $548 per month in Masallatah and $1,899 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $365 in Masallatah and $1,266 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 $52.0 per month in Masallatah and $224 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 living in Masallatah or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Masallatah, where all-in costs run around $365, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. 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.

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