😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,003 in Batroun.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,576 in Batroun.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,362 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,150 in Batroun.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 30% more expensive than in Batroun, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen5% lower, Batroun27% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Batroun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96MX$203
$11.96LBP 1.1M
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.38MX$804
$64.4LBP 5.8M
-26.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.75MX$199
$10.10LBP 903.6K
16.34%
Cappuccino
$4.12MX$70.0
$4.73LBP 423.3K
-12.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.74
$2.31LBP 207.0K
-39.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.48
$0.83LBP 74.2K
9.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21MX$54.4
$4.87LBP 436.0K
-34.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07MX$120
$4.94LBP 441.9K
43.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Batroun
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.44
$1.87LBP 167.3K
-10.16%
White Bread(500g)
$2.15MX$36.48
$0.83LBP 74.1K
159.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$30.10
$2.24LBP 200.5K
-20.98%
Eggs
$2.82MX$47.76
$3.51LBP 314.6K
-19.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20MX$156
$13.58LBP 1.2M
-32.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.23MX$157
$10.43LBP 933.5K
-11.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.64MX$214
$14.40LBP 1.3M
-12.22%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$50.1
$3.05LBP 272.8K
-3.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58MX$26.79
$1.70LBP 151.8K
-7.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22MX$37.70
$1.61LBP 144.3K
37.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.09
$1.54LBP 138.1K
53.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.81
$1.34LBP 119.9K
48.51%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98MX$33.58
$1.68LBP 150.8K
17.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$21.04
$1.20LBP 107.8K
3.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21MX$20.55
$0.73LBP 65.7K
65.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60MX$78.1
$2.95LBP 263.8K
55.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.52MX$178
$10.19LBP 911.6K
3.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69MX$28.70
$1.28LBP 114.4K
32.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77MX$47.06
$2.46LBP 220.3K
12.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Batroun
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.22
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.70MX$504
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.24MX$88.8
$4.97LBP 445.1K
5.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.65MX$61.9
$2.20LBP 197.0K
65.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$98.1
$22.70LBP 2.0M
-74.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.09
$1.00LBP 89.8K
54.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$386.8K
$52.7KLBP 4.7B
-56.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KMX$437.9K
$32.4KLBP 2.9B
-20.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Batroun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$90.7MX$1,538
$232LBP 20.8M
-60.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19MX$427
$23.66LBP 2.1M
6.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75MX$539
$37.69LBP 3.4M
-15.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Batroun
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,167
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37MX$498
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$82.5
$9.98LBP 893.5K
-51.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Batroun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$226MX$3,828
$691LBP 61.8M
-67.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,194MX$71.1K
$10.7KLBP 961.9M
-60.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Batroun
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38MX$804
$68.3LBP 6.1M
-30.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45MX$737
$48.94LBP 4.4M
-11.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.2MX$1,361
$136LBP 12.2M
-40.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4MX$1,550
$120LBP 10.8M
-24.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Batroun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,086MX$18.4K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$409MX$6,933
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,972MX$33.5K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,281MX$21.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,046MX$68.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,704MX$113.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Batroun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$773MX$13.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
11
4.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Last update for Batroun: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $64.0 in Batroun for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $278 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
Playa del Carmen vs Batroun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and in Batroun?
Playa del Carmen and Batroun differ by about 30% in total monthly costs ($1,305 vs $1,003 including rent). Batroun is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Batroun?
You'd need roughly $1,958 in Playa del Carmen and $1,504 in Batroun to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Playa del Carmen pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Batroun?
All in, you'll spend $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,003 in Batroun – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,003 in Batroun versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Batroun but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Batroun the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Batroun?
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: Playa del Carmen or Batroun?
Expats usually find Batroun gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared