๐A single person spends $1,262 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,620 in Lecco, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $2,158 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,421 in Lecco, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $3,054 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,222 in Lecco, rent included.
๐Playa del Carmen is about 22% cheaper than Lecco, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Lecco is 20% above โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Lecco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61MX$201
$23.22โฌ19.76
-50.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$742
$74.8โฌ63.6
-42.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.60MX$184
$10.80โฌ9.19
-1.85%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.3
$1.84โฌ1.57
95.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.21
$3.26โฌ2.78
-55.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90MX$15.58
$1.48โฌ1.26
-39.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$5.59โฌ4.75
-45.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56MX$79.2
$4.73โฌ4.02
-3.59%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Lecco
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45MX$25.20
$1.62โฌ1.38
-10.49%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83MX$31.72
$2.81โฌ2.39
-34.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.92
$1.37โฌ1.17
17.52%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.05
$2.58โฌ2.20
-1.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.54MX$148
$12.02โฌ10.23
-28.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.47MX$147
$12.89โฌ10.97
-34.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$189
$7.60โฌ6.46
42.89%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.37
$2.84โฌ2.41
-3.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.91
$2.31โฌ1.97
-35.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94MX$33.73
$3.23โฌ2.75
-39.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.57
$3.64โฌ3.10
-40.66%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.05
$1.72โฌ1.46
7.56%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.00
$1.69โฌ1.44
29.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.62
$1.70โฌ1.44
-37.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.81
$0.69โฌ0.59
56.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06MX$70.5
$6.99โฌ5.94
-41.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.46MX$182
$8.44โฌ7.18
23.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65MX$28.71
$1.42โฌ1.21
16.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55MX$44.23
$2.99โฌ2.54
-14.72%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Lecco
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MX$9.65
$2.35โฌ2.00
-76.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.20MX$455
$49.01โฌ41.70
-46.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$54.5
$5.64โฌ4.80
-44.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.37MX$41.17
$1.55โฌ1.32
52.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.2
$38.74โฌ32.97
-91.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.81
$2.13โฌ1.81
-38.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5KMX$530.2K
$33.5Kโฌ28.5K
-8.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$413.6K
$35.9Kโฌ30.6K
-33.65%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Lecco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.1MX$1,443
$94.3โฌ80.2
-11.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15MX$385
$11.75โฌ10.00
88.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37MX$510
$29.03โฌ24.70
1.17%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Lecco
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.2MX$889
$55.0โฌ46.77
-6.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69MX$324
$11.48โฌ9.77
62.80%
Cinema Ticket
$4.89MX$84.9
$11.40โฌ9.70
-57.11%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Lecco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$199MX$3,449
$692โฌ589
-71.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,207MX$90.4K
$3,419โฌ2,910
52.30%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Lecco
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93MX$624
$99.5โฌ84.7
-63.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39MX$684
$46.92โฌ39.93
-16.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.3MX$1,394
$109โฌ92.5
-26.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6MX$1,520
$140โฌ119
-37.53%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Lecco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.7K
$855โฌ728
12.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482MX$8,370
$580โฌ493
-16.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,645MX$28.6K
$1,551โฌ1,320
6.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,192MX$20.7K
$701โฌ596
70.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,957MX$68.7K
$4,181โฌ3,558
-5.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,513MX$113.1K
$1,792โฌ1,525
263.46%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Lecco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$726MX$12.6K
$2,374โฌ2,020
-69.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
3.25
251.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026
Last update for Lecco: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $855 in Lecco. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐ฐSalaries run about 227% higher in Lecco, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $75 in Lecco. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $296 โ making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Lecco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and Lecco compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,262 in Playa del Carmen, $1,620 in Lecco โ roughly 28% apart. Lecco costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Lecco?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,894 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,430 in Lecco. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Playa del Carmen and Lecco?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen and $75.0 in Lecco. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafรฉ pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Lecco?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,262 in Playa del Carmen and $1,620 in Lecco. The difference isn't just one category โ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,262, than in Lecco at $1,620. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lecco it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Lecco?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,262 in Playa del Carmen to $1,620 in Lecco. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Playa del Carmen or Lecco safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Lecco?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lecco makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared