๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,262 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,836 in Levanto.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,158 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,834 in Levanto.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,054 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,833 in Levanto.
๐Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 31% less than in Levanto, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Levanto is 36% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Levanto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61MX$201
$19.95โฌ16.98
-41.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$742
$82.4โฌ70.1
-48.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.60MX$184
$9.37โฌ7.97
13.13%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.3
$1.78โฌ1.52
101.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.21
$3.81โฌ3.24
-61.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90MX$15.58
$1.72โฌ1.47
-47.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$5.87โฌ5.00
-48.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56MX$79.2
$5.70โฌ4.85
-20.00%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Levanto
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45MX$25.20
$1.67โฌ1.42
-13.17%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83MX$31.72
$3.24โฌ2.76
-43.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.92
$2.89โฌ2.46
-44.29%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.05
$3.74โฌ3.18
-32.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.54MX$148
$23.66โฌ20.14
-63.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.47MX$147
$10.25โฌ8.72
-17.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$189
$35.35โฌ30.08
-69.28%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.37
$2.74โฌ2.33
-0.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.91
$2.24โฌ1.90
-33.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94MX$33.73
$3.37โฌ2.87
-42.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.57
$4.12โฌ3.51
-47.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.05
$2.18โฌ1.86
-15.14%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.00
$2.95โฌ2.51
-25.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.62
$2.15โฌ1.83
-50.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.81
$0.77โฌ0.66
40.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06MX$70.5
$7.10โฌ6.05
-42.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.46MX$182
$5.94โฌ5.06
76.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65MX$28.71
$1.87โฌ1.59
-11.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55MX$44.23
$2.48โฌ2.11
2.82%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Levanto
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MX$9.65
$1.79โฌ1.52
-68.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.20MX$455
$43.10โฌ36.68
-39.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$54.5
$4.73โฌ4.02
-33.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.37MX$41.17
$1.40โฌ1.19
69.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.2
$35.20โฌ29.96
-90.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.81
$2.00โฌ1.70
-34.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5KMX$530.2K
$39.4Kโฌ33.5K
-22.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$413.6K
$45.9Kโฌ39.1K
-48.08%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Levanto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.1MX$1,443
$221โฌ188
-62.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15MX$385
$13.49โฌ11.48
64.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37MX$510
$27.41โฌ23.32
7.15%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Levanto
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.2MX$889
$54.0โฌ45.98
-5.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69MX$324
$23.03โฌ19.60
-18.84%
Cinema Ticket
$4.89MX$84.9
$12.81โฌ10.90
-61.83%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Levanto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$199MX$3,449
$622โฌ529
-68.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,207MX$90.4K
$10.4Kโฌ8,838
-49.86%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Levanto
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93MX$624
$85.9โฌ73.1
-58.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39MX$684
$59.0โฌ50.2
-33.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.3MX$1,394
$86.4โฌ73.5
-7.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6MX$1,520
$126โฌ107
-30.37%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Levanto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.7K
$763โฌ649
26.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482MX$8,370
$574โฌ488
-15.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,645MX$28.6K
$1,236โฌ1,052
33.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,192MX$20.7K
$931โฌ792
28.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,957MX$68.7K
$3,364โฌ2,863
17.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,513MX$113.1K
$2,316โฌ1,971
181.23%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Levanto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$726MX$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
๐ 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.
๐Dining 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared