🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,330 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,410 in Legnica.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,336 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,064 in Legnica.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,341 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,718 in Legnica.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 6% less than in Legnica, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 3% below, Legnica is 3% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Legnica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.02MX$221
$9.97zł 36.82
30.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.25MX$784
$26.34zł 97.3
75.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.59MX$213
$9.26zł 34.19
35.96%
Cappuccino
$4.00MX$67.9
$3.20zł 11.82
25.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42MX$24.08
$2.10zł 7.76
-32.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81MX$13.73
$1.09zł 4.02
-25.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.05MX$51.7
$3.28zł 12.12
-7.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82MX$116
$4.11zł 15.19
65.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Legnica
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71MX$29.04
$0.93zł 3.42
83.87%
White Bread(500g)
$2.22MX$37.62
$1.11zł 4.10
100.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72MX$29.13
$1.30zł 4.82
32.31%
Eggs
$2.71MX$45.99
$3.14zł 11.59
-13.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.37MX$159
$10.99zł 40.57
-14.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.86MX$150
$7.28zł 26.89
21.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.78MX$217
$7.67zł 28.32
66.62%
Apples(1kg)
$3.13MX$53.0
$1.18zł 4.35
165.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55MX$26.24
$1.75zł 6.45
-11.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.51
$2.23zł 8.23
-3.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.35MX$39.89
$3.14zł 11.61
-25.16%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02MX$34.23
$0.88zł 3.25
129.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.67
$0.99zł 3.67
101.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$21.09
$1.04zł 3.84
19.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19MX$20.21
$0.52zł 1.93
128.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65MX$78.8
$4.71zł 17.38
-1.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.47MX$177
$7.18zł 26.51
45.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58MX$26.82
$0.82zł 3.04
92.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92MX$49.48
$1.76zł 6.51
65.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Legnica
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MX$9.53
$1.10zł 4.08
-49.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.76MX$504
$47.98zł 177
-37.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.32MX$90.2
$1.61zł 5.94
230.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.72MX$63.0
$0.52zł 1.92
615.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$97.9
$9.43zł 34.84
-38.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.27
$1.65zł 6.08
-6.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4KMX$379.1K
$31.5Kzł 116.4K
-29.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6KMX$433.3K
$28.2Kzł 104.1K
-9.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Legnica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.3MX$1,513
$327zł 1,208
-72.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.30MX$395
$8.84zł 32.66
163.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.72MX$538
$13.20zł 48.73
140.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Legnica
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,165
$32.42zł 120
112.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.40MX$498
$23.15zł 85.5
27.00%
Cinema Ticket
$5.06MX$85.7
$6.55zł 24.20
-22.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Legnica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$222MX$3,765
$328zł 1,211
-32.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,293MX$72.7K
$9,347zł 34.5K
-54.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Legnica
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.21MX$783
$77.0zł 284
-39.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.43MX$753
$41.54zł 153
6.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.5MX$1,618
$92.5zł 341
3.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.5MX$1,568
$102zł 377
-9.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Legnica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,069MX$18.1K
$512zł 1,892
108.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$393MX$6,663
$414zł 1,531
-5.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,988MX$33.7K
$1,033zł 3,814
92.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,304MX$22.1K
$849zł 3,135
53.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,037MX$68.4K
$3,058zł 11.3K
32.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,627MX$112.3K
$2,353zł 8,689
181.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Legnica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$747MX$12.7K
$1,379zł 5,093
-45.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.6
6.87
68.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026
Last update for Legnica: August 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen and $512 in Legnica. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Legnica pays 85% 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: $46.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $26.00 in Legnica for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $209 per month, with Legnica 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 Legnica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Legnica cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Legnica?
On paper, salaries run 85% lower in Legnica. 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 Legnica?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $512 in Legnica. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Legnica?
All in, you'll spend $1,330 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,410 in Legnica – a 6% 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 61% less than in Legnica. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Legnica?
At $1,330 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,410 in Legnica, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Legnica. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Legnica more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Legnica, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Legnica?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Legnica are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Legnica. 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