🙂A single person spends $1,262 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,108 in Lewisham, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,158 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,066 in Lewisham, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,054 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $7,024 in Lewisham, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 59% cheaper than Lewisham, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Lewisham is 131% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Lewisham
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61MX$201
$20.61£15.27
-43.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$742
$82.0£60.8
-47.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.60MX$184
$9.86£7.31
7.51%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.3
$4.79£3.55
-25.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.21
$2.09£1.55
-30.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90MX$15.58
$1.85£1.37
-51.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$8.99£6.66
-66.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56MX$79.2
$8.68£6.43
-47.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Lewisham
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45MX$25.20
$2.20£1.63
-34.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83MX$31.72
$2.56£1.90
-28.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.92
$3.17£2.35
-49.21%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.05
$5.87£4.35
-56.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.54MX$148
$6.87£5.09
24.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.47MX$147
$7.77£5.76
9.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$189
$12.39£9.18
-12.35%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.37
$4.82£3.57
-43.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.91
$1.64£1.22
-9.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94MX$33.73
$2.90£2.15
-33.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.57
$4.20£3.11
-48.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.05
$1.70£1.26
8.82%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.00
$2.67£1.98
-17.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.62
$0.92£0.68
16.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.81
$1.53£1.13
-29.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06MX$70.5
$26.24£19.45
-84.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.46MX$182
$19.49£14.44
-46.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65MX$28.71
$2.40£1.78
-31.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55MX$44.23
$1.95£1.44
30.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Lewisham
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MX$9.65
$6.05£4.48
-90.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.20MX$455
$87.8£65.1
-70.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$54.5
$5.74£4.26
-45.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.37MX$41.17
$2.13£1.58
11.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.2
$23.28£17.25
-86.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.81
$2.17£1.61
-39.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5KMX$530.2K
$38.2K£28.3K
-20.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$413.6K
$40.4K£29.9K
-40.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Lewisham
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.1MX$1,443
$411£304
-79.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15MX$385
$17.26£12.79
28.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37MX$510
$39.24£29.07
-25.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Lewisham
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.2MX$889
$45.41£33.65
12.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69MX$324
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.89MX$84.9
$20.31£15.05
-75.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Lewisham
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$199MX$3,449
$1,617£1,198
-87.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,207MX$90.4K
$18.2K£13.5K
-71.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Lewisham
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93MX$624
$160£118
-77.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39MX$684
$61.5£45.57
-35.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.3MX$1,394
$147£109
-45.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6MX$1,520
$170£126
-48.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Lewisham
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.7K
$2,143£1,588
-55.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482MX$8,370
$1,570£1,163
-69.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,645MX$28.6K
$2,046£1,516
-19.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,192MX$20.7K
$3,618£2,681
-67.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,957MX$68.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,513MX$113.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Lewisham
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$726MX$12.6K
$4,037£2,991
-82.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.93
64.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026
Last update for Lewisham: April 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,143 in Lewisham. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 456% higher in Lewisham, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $82 in Lewisham. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $334 – 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 Lewisham: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Lewisham?
Lewisham costs about 146% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen vs Lewisham?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,894 per month in Playa del Carmen and $4,662 in Lewisham. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Lewisham?
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.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or Lewisham?
Groceries cost about 32% more in Lewisham, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen vs Lewisham?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen and $82.0 in Lewisham. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or Lewisham?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,262, than in Lewisham at $3,108. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lewisham it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Lewisham?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,262 versus $3,108 in Lewisham. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or Lewisham?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lewisham makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared