Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Koura

For one person, living costs are similar in Playa del Carmen and in Koura: $1,204 and $1,223 a month, rent and utilities included.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Koura, Lebanon
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Koura
🇱🇧 Lebanon
$1,223
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Koura

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Koura actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,223 in Koura, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Koura $1,223

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,925 in Koura, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Koura $1,925

A family of three spends $2,959 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,628 in Koura, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Koura $2,628

Playa del Carmen and Koura have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Playa del Carmen and Koura are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 12% lower, Koura 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Koura
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$205
$11.99 LBP 1.1M
-8.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$814
$69.7 LBP 6.2M
-37.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$221
$10.17 LBP 910.0K
15.83%
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$71.5
$4.56 LBP 408.3K
-16.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$24.07
$2.36 LBP 211.0K
-45.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.70
$0.83 LBP 74.7K
-6.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$59.5
$4.88 LBP 437.0K
-35.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$92.7
$4.68 LBP 418.8K
5.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Koura
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.40
$2.00 LBP 178.6K
-29.50%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.62
$0.84 LBP 75.3K
164.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.61
$2.16 LBP 193.2K
-34.26%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$47.36
$3.67 LBP 328.2K
-31.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$136
$10.98 LBP 983.1K
-33.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$144
$10.81 LBP 967.4K
-28.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$238
$15.09 LBP 1.4M
-15.90%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$52.3
$2.99 LBP 267.6K
-7.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.68
$1.73 LBP 154.8K
-20.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.89
$1.61 LBP 144.4K
58.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.86
$1.48 LBP 132.6K
43.24%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.39
$1.25 LBP 111.9K
55.20%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.41
$1.60 LBP 143.3K
18.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.53
$1.18 LBP 105.4K
-2.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$22.13
$0.67 LBP 60.0K
76.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$80.6
$3.01 LBP 269.5K
42.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$187
$11.20 LBP 1.0M
-11.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.73
$1.28 LBP 114.6K
23.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$50.1
$2.47 LBP 221.3K
8.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Koura
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.39
$2.05 LBP 183.4K
-73.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$500
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$93.3
$5.14 LBP 460.4K
-3.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$62.5
$2.21 LBP 197.8K
50.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$101
$22.19 LBP 2.0M
-75.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$27.11
$0.95 LBP 84.9K
51.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$388.0K
$54.4K LBP 4.9B
-62.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$440.5K
$32.6K LBP 2.9B
-28.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Koura
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,592
$215 LBP 19.2M
-60.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$439
$23.66 LBP 2.1M
-1.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$538
$37.94 LBP 3.4M
-24.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Koura
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,071
$24.51 LBP 2.2M
132.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$543
$9.82 LBP 878.9K
194.40%
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$96.5
$9.90 LBP 886.4K
-48.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Koura
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,878
$679 LBP 60.8M
-69.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$73.7K
$10.4K LBP 933.6M
-62.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Koura
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$814
$68.1 LBP 6.1M
-36.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$778
$50.1 LBP 4.5M
-17.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,393
$140 LBP 12.5M
-46.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,676
$121 LBP 10.8M
-26.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Koura
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.4K
$245 LBP 21.9M
299.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,150
$203 LBP 18.1M
87.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$32.1K
$453 LBP 40.6M
276.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.2K
$347 LBP 31.0M
209.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$74.0K
$1,132 LBP 101.3M
248.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$115.6K
$860 LBP 77.0M
615.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Koura
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.8K
$602 LBP 53.9M
21.97%
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: October 25, 2026

Last update for Koura: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Koura
$203 46.7% $178
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Koura
$277 8.6% $22
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Koura
$228 12.5% $25
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Koura
$277 102% $140
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Koura
$170 52.6% $59
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Koura
$44 34.2% $23
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Koura
$24 * 51.7% $26

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $245 in Koura. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 22% higher in Playa del Carmen. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $70 in Koura. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $277 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇱🇧 Koura
🕒 Local time
18:15 6:15 PM
01:15 1:15 AM
7 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

LBP, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 18.77 MXN (100 MXN = 5.33 USD). 1 EUR = 20.96 MXN (100 MXN = 4.77 EUR).

Lebanese Pound exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 89,500 LBP (100,000 LBP = 1.12 USD). 1 EUR = 99,933 LBP (100,000 LBP = 1 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Koura 11,420 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Koura

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Koura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Koura?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,806 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,834 in Koura. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Koura?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Koura, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $245 there versus $980 in Playa del Carmen.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or in Koura?
Groceries cost about 9% more in Koura, though the gap depends on what you buy.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Koura?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen and $70 in Koura. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or in Koura?
$1,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,204 in Playa del Carmen and $1,223 in Koura, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Playa del Carmen or Koura?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,204 in Playa del Carmen to $1,223 in Koura. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

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