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

😐 Solo nomad: Monrovia is 34.9% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 12.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Monrovia is 93.9% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 13.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monrovia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.48 LRD 1,378
$11.61 MX$200
-35.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$153 LRD 28.2K
$42.75 MX$738
257.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.16 LRD 2,056
$10.60 MX$183
5.28%
Cappuccino
$3.25 LRD 600
$3.59 MX$61.9
-9.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 LRD 367
$1.45 MX$25.06
37.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 LRD 506
$0.90 MX$15.49
204.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.71 LRD 499
$3.03 MX$52.3
-10.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 LRD 558
$4.56 MX$78.7
-33.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monrovia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 LRD 401
$1.45 MX$25.06
50.34%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 LRD 333
$1.83 MX$31.53
-1.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.24 LRD 966
$1.61 MX$27.76
225.47%
Eggs
$3.66 LRD 673
$2.54 MX$43.80
44.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.01 LRD 2,213
$8.54 MX$147
40.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.62 LRD 2,141
$8.47 MX$146
37.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$35.18 LRD 6,481
$10.86 MX$188
223.94%
Apples (1kg)
$1.68 LRD 309
$2.73 MX$47.10
-38.46%
Banana (1kg)
$8.40 LRD 1,548
$1.49 MX$25.76
463.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$10.37 LRD 1,911
$1.94 MX$33.53
434.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$10.95 LRD 2,018
$2.16 MX$37.36
406.94%
Potato (1kg)
$2.23 LRD 410
$1.85 MX$31.86
20.54%
Onion (1kg)
$10.51 LRD 1,936
$2.19 MX$37.78
379.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$4.78 LRD 881
$1.07 MX$18.51
346.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 LRD 363
$1.08 MX$18.70
82.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.88 LRD 899
$4.06 MX$70.1
20.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.99 LRD 1,287
$10.46 MX$181
-33.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.49 LRD 458
$1.65 MX$28.55
50.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34 LRD 615
$2.55 MX$43.98
30.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Monrovia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.06 LRD 564
$0.56 MX$9.60
446.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.08 LRD 3,699
$26.20 MX$452
-23.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 LRD 504
$3.14 MX$54.2
-13.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.21 LRD 222
$2.37 MX$40.93
-48.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.26 LRD 3,179
$3.24 MX$55.9
432.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 LRD 227
$1.31 MX$22.68
-6.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.5K LRD 2.3M
$30.5K MX$527.1K
-58.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.0K LRD 2.8M
$23.8K MX$411.2K
-37.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monrovia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$276 LRD 50.9K
$83.1 MX$1,435
232.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.52 LRD 4,150
$22.15 MX$382
1.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$92.1 LRD 17.0K
$29.37 MX$507
213.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monrovia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.2 LRD 14.0K
$51.2 MX$884
48.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.36 LRD 1,541
$18.69 MX$323
-55.27%
Cinema Ticket
$9.67 LRD 1,781
$4.89 MX$84.4
97.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monrovia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$127 LRD 23.4K
$199 MX$3,429
-36.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$876 LRD 161.5K
$5,207 MX$89.9K
-83.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monrovia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.63 LRD 3,433
$35.93 MX$620
-48.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.55 LRD 6,181
$39.39 MX$680
-14.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$57.1 LRD 10.5K
$80.3 MX$1,386
-28.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.8 LRD 12.9K
$87.6 MX$1,511
-20.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monrovia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$673 LRD 124.0K
$963 MX$16.6K
-30.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$93.8 LRD 17.3K
$482 MX$8,321
-80.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,811 LRD 333.6K
$1,645 MX$28.4K
10.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$270 LRD 49.7K
$1,192 MX$20.6K
-77.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,957 MX$68.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,513 MX$112.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monrovia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$713 LRD 131.4K
$726 MX$12.5K
-1.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
11.42
-56.22%

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

Last update for Monrovia: April 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

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

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