Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Lake Forest, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Lake Forest, CA

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Playa del Carmen is 42.1% cheaper than Lake Forest, CA without rent, and 56.9% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Playa del Carmen is 43.8% cheaper than Lake Forest, CA without rent, and 51.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Lake Forest, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$222
$24.98 $24.98
-53.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.52 MX$785
$98.3 $98.3
-57.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.57 MX$200
$10.12 $10.12
4.45%
Cappuccino
$3.49 MX$65.9
$5.8 $5.8
-39.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$27.33
$2.74 $2.74
-47.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$18.33
$2.29 $2.29
-57.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$57.2
$8.68 $8.68
-65.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59 MX$86.8
$8.73 $8.73
-47.42%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Lake Forest, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 MX$26.87
$1.17 $1.17
21.37%
White Bread (500g)
$1.87 MX$35.43
$4.5 $4.5
-58.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 MX$29.2
$4.78 $4.78
-67.78%
Eggs
$2.6 MX$49.21
$4.58 $4.58
-43.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 MX$157
$12.69 $12.69
-34.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.54 MX$161
$17.1 $17.1
-50.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.67 MX$202
$19.88 $19.88
-46.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.66 MX$50.2
$6.47 $6.47
-58.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$28.5
$1.84 $1.84
-17.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.9 MX$35.87
$4.32 $4.32
-56.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.45
$5.48 $5.48
-60.04%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$33.7
$3.17 $3.17
-43.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$41.05
$3.06 $3.06
-29.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$20.14
$1.92 $1.92
-44.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$20.53
$2.19 $2.19
-50.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.17 MX$78.8
$9.59 $9.59
-56.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.75 MX$165
$19.69 $19.69
-55.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 MX$31.91
$1.76 $1.76
-3.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 MX$47.74
$4.11 $4.11
-38.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Lake Forest, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$9.59
$3.51 $3.51
-85.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.97 MX$510
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$61.4
$3.14 $3.14
3.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$47.01
$2.69 $2.69
-7.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.22 MX$60.8
$29.16 $29.16
-88.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 MX$23.87
$1.3 $1.3
-3.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K MX$564.1K
$29K $29K
2.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$442.5K
$27K $27K
-13.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Lake Forest, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.2 MX$1,592
$202 $202
-58.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.8 MX$431
$53.9 $53.9
-57.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.04 MX$568
$72.5 $72.5
-58.57%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Lake Forest, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.4 MX$972
$49.69 $49.69
3.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.28 MX$346
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 MX$94.1
$17.16 $17.16
-71.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Lake Forest, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,719
$1,782 $1,782
-88.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,254 MX$99.3K
$23.4K $23.4K
-77.54%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Lake Forest, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.81 MX$677
$63.1 $63.1
-43.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.43 MX$745
$39.96 $39.96
-1.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.9 MX$1,529
$100 $100
-19.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.3 MX$1,631
$153 $153
-43.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Lake Forest, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$968 MX$18.3K
$1,434 $1,434
-32.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$478 MX$9,037
$1,493 $1,493
-67.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,631 MX$30.8K
$3,156 $3,156
-48.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,197 MX$22.6K
$2,812 $2,812
-57.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,137 MX$59.3K
$8,186 $8,186
-61.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,586 MX$143.4K
$6,857 $6,857
10.63%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Lake Forest, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$805 MX$15.2K
$6,963 $6,963
-88.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.49
75.96%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: November 2, 2025

Last update for Lake Forest, CA: November 3, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.