Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Lake Worth, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Lake Worth, FL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,648 in Lake Worth, FL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,843 in Lake Worth, FL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,038 in Lake Worth, FL.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 51% less than in Lake Worth, FL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 4% below, Lake Worth, FL is 98% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Lake Worth, FL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94 MX$208
$24.90 $24.90
-52.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$744
$74.2 $74.2
-42.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 MX$184
$9.62 $9.62
10.08%
Cappuccino
$3.62 MX$63.0
$5.21 $5.21
-30.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.54
$2.78 $2.78
-47.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 MX$16.41
$1.95 $1.95
-51.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$53.8
$5.85 $5.85
-47.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 MX$77.6
$8.09 $8.09
-44.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Lake Worth, FL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.80
$1.06 $1.06
34.91%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.79
$2.86 $2.86
-34.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.34
$2.82 $2.82
-42.20%
Eggs
$2.64 MX$45.99
$4.50 $4.50
-41.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 MX$143
$12.77 $12.77
-35.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$144
$8.55 $8.55
-3.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.10 MX$193
$14.55 $14.55
-23.71%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 MX$46.14
$4.60 $4.60
-42.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$26.11
$1.74 $1.74
-13.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.59
$3.60 $3.60
-44.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.13
$5.03 $5.03
-58.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.11
$2.57 $2.57
-30.35%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$37.87
$3.47 $3.47
-37.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.73
$2.18 $2.18
-50.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 MX$18.04
$2.54 $2.54
-59.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 MX$69.1
$8.47 $8.47
-53.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.20 MX$178
$12.97 $12.97
-21.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.04
$1.77 $1.77
-2.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 MX$43.46
$3.02 $3.02
-17.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Lake Worth, FL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.02
$1.96 $1.96
-73.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.97 MX$469
$69.2 $69.2
-61.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$54.7
$2.46 $2.46
27.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$41.80
$1.93 $1.93
24.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 MX$53.7
$29.74 $29.74
-89.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$22.16
$0.83 $0.83
53.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K MX$537.3K
$33.5K $33.5K
-7.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$405.7K
$28.1K $28.1K
-17.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Lake Worth, FL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,427
$180 $180
-54.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45 MX$391
$46.54 $46.54
-51.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66 MX$516
$60.8 $60.8
-51.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Lake Worth, FL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.9 MX$903
$43.78 $43.78
18.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67 MX$325
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 MX$86.5
$12.59 $12.59
-60.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Lake Worth, FL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,442
$914 $914
-78.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,273 MX$91.7K
$23.3K $23.3K
-77.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Lake Worth, FL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34 MX$632
$52.8 $52.8
-31.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05 MX$697
$33.40 $33.40
19.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 MX$1,390
$92.2 $92.2
-13.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,547
$107 $107
-17.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Lake Worth, FL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.8K
$1,608 $1,608
-40.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,086
$1,362 $1,362
-65.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,596 MX$27.8K
$2,633 $2,633
-39.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 MX$21.0K
$2,211 $2,211
-45.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,942 MX$68.6K
$2,914 $2,914
35.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,448 MX$112.2K
$2,555 $2,555
152.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Lake Worth, FL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$720 MX$12.5K
$7,608 $7,608
-90.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.53
74.89%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Last update for Lake Worth, FL: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $1,608 in Lake Worth, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lake Worth, FL pays 956% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $74.0 in Lake Worth, FL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $361 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 Lake Worth, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lake Worth, FL cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 106% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Lake Worth, FL?
On paper, Lake Worth, FL earns 956% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Lake Worth, FL?
Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,608 in Lake Worth, FL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Lake Worth, FL?
All in, you'll spend $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,648 in Lake Worth, FL – a 106% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 157% less than in Lake Worth, FL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Lake Worth, FL?
At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,648 in Lake Worth, FL, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Lake Worth, FL. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Lake Worth, FL more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lake Worth, FL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 106% less than in Lake Worth, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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