Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Levanto Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Levanto

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,262 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,836 in Levanto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,158 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,834 in Levanto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,054 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,833 in Levanto.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 31% less than in Levanto, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Levanto is 36% above.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Levanto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61 MX$201
$19.95 โ‚ฌ16.98
-41.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$742
$82.4 โ‚ฌ70.1
-48.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.60 MX$184
$9.37 โ‚ฌ7.97
13.13%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.3
$1.78 โ‚ฌ1.52
101.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.21
$3.81 โ‚ฌ3.24
-61.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 MX$15.58
$1.72 โ‚ฌ1.47
-47.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$52.6
$5.87 โ‚ฌ5.00
-48.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56 MX$79.2
$5.70 โ‚ฌ4.85
-20.00%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Levanto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 MX$25.20
$1.67 โ‚ฌ1.42
-13.17%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 MX$31.72
$3.24 โ‚ฌ2.76
-43.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.92
$2.89 โ‚ฌ2.46
-44.29%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$44.05
$3.74 โ‚ฌ3.18
-32.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.54 MX$148
$23.66 โ‚ฌ20.14
-63.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.47 MX$147
$10.25 โ‚ฌ8.72
-17.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$189
$35.35 โ‚ฌ30.08
-69.28%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 MX$47.37
$2.74 โ‚ฌ2.33
-0.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.91
$2.24 โ‚ฌ1.90
-33.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 MX$33.73
$3.37 โ‚ฌ2.87
-42.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.57
$4.12 โ‚ฌ3.51
-47.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$32.05
$2.18 โ‚ฌ1.86
-15.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$38.00
$2.95 โ‚ฌ2.51
-25.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.62
$2.15 โ‚ฌ1.83
-50.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.81
$0.77 โ‚ฌ0.66
40.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06 MX$70.5
$7.10 โ‚ฌ6.05
-42.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.46 MX$182
$5.94 โ‚ฌ5.06
76.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 MX$28.71
$1.87 โ‚ฌ1.59
-11.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 MX$44.23
$2.48 โ‚ฌ2.11
2.82%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Levanto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.56 MX$9.65
$1.79 โ‚ฌ1.52
-68.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.20 MX$455
$43.10 โ‚ฌ36.68
-39.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$54.5
$4.73 โ‚ฌ4.02
-33.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.37 MX$41.17
$1.40 โ‚ฌ1.19
69.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$56.2
$35.20 โ‚ฌ29.96
-90.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.81
$2.00 โ‚ฌ1.70
-34.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K MX$530.2K
$39.4K โ‚ฌ33.5K
-22.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$413.6K
$45.9K โ‚ฌ39.1K
-48.08%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Levanto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.1 MX$1,443
$221 โ‚ฌ188
-62.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15 MX$385
$13.49 โ‚ฌ11.48
64.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37 MX$510
$27.41 โ‚ฌ23.32
7.15%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Levanto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.2 MX$889
$54.0 โ‚ฌ45.98
-5.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 MX$324
$23.03 โ‚ฌ19.60
-18.84%
Cinema Ticket
$4.89 MX$84.9
$12.81 โ‚ฌ10.90
-61.83%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Levanto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$199 MX$3,449
$622 โ‚ฌ529
-68.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,207 MX$90.4K
$10.4K โ‚ฌ8,838
-49.86%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Levanto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93 MX$624
$85.9 โ‚ฌ73.1
-58.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39 MX$684
$59.0 โ‚ฌ50.2
-33.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.3 MX$1,394
$86.4 โ‚ฌ73.5
-7.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6 MX$1,520
$126 โ‚ฌ107
-30.37%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Levanto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.7K
$763 โ‚ฌ649
26.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 MX$8,370
$574 โ‚ฌ488
-15.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,645 MX$28.6K
$1,236 โ‚ฌ1,052
33.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,192 MX$20.7K
$931 โ‚ฌ792
28.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,957 MX$68.7K
$3,364 โ‚ฌ2,863
17.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,513 MX$113.1K
$2,316 โ‚ฌ1,971
181.23%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Levanto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$726 MX$12.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
4.21
171.26%

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 Levanto: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $763 in Levanto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $43 in Playa del Carmen vs $82 in Levanto for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $253 vs $422 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 Levanto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Levanto?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost โ€“ living expenses run 45% lower than in Levanto. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen vs Levanto?
You'd need roughly $1,894 in Playa del Carmen and $2,753 in Levanto to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen vs Levanto?
Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $763 in Levanto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen vs Levanto?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen โ€“ a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $82.0 in Levanto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Levanto?
All in, you'll spend $1,262 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,836 in Levanto โ€“ a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or Levanto?
At $1,262 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,836 in Levanto, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Levanto. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Levanto?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value โ€“ similar infrastructure at $1,262 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Levanto?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Levanto 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet โ€“ expenses run 45% less than in Levanto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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