😐A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,038 in Lezhe, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,547 in Lezhe, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,055 in Lezhe, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 21% more than Lezhe, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Lezhe are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Lezhe22% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Lezhe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$204
$5.21ALL 427
124.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$731
$34.67ALL 2,841
20.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$183
$3.47ALL 284
202.88%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.5
$0.96ALL 78.9
273.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.31
$1.38ALL 113
9.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.96
$0.69ALL 56.7
33.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.6
$1.45ALL 119
104.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.9
$2.32ALL 190
90.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Lezhe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.35
$1.98ALL 162
-29.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.87
$0.87ALL 71.5
116.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$27.19
$1.94ALL 159
-19.59%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.50
$2.90ALL 238
-10.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$145
$9.90ALL 811
-15.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$146
$7.95ALL 651
5.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$189
$13.33ALL 1,092
-18.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$47.31
$1.90ALL 155
42.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.25
$2.37ALL 194
-36.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.67
$1.72ALL 141
8.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.19
$1.33ALL 109
64.66%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.40
$1.01ALL 82.9
84.16%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.90
$1.18ALL 96.7
88.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.63
$1.14ALL 93.6
-6.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.94
$0.78ALL 64.0
39.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$73.0
$4.02ALL 329
4.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$182
$10.21ALL 837
2.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.91
$1.69ALL 138
-1.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.56
$1.82ALL 149
43.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Lezhe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.45
$0.45ALL 37.08
20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$456
$18.89ALL 1,548
38.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.7
$3.54ALL 290
-12.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.94
$3.20ALL 262
-25.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.5
$17.57ALL 1,440
-82.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.87
$2.20ALL 180
-40.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$519.9K
$34.1KALL 2.8M
-12.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$406.8K
$25.0KALL 2.0M
-6.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Lezhe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,418
$66.4ALL 5,444
22.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$393
$17.67ALL 1,448
27.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$524
$15.80ALL 1,294
90.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Lezhe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$923
$54.0ALL 4,427
-2.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$321
$24.79ALL 2,032
-25.82%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.8
$8.03ALL 658
-38.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Lezhe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,502
$180ALL 14.8K
11.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$90.2K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Lezhe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$627
$47.20ALL 3,868
-23.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$700
$52.1ALL 4,266
-22.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,390
$95.8ALL 7,851
-16.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,508
$141ALL 11.6K
-38.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Lezhe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$17.1K
$447ALL 36.6K
118.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,206
$348ALL 28.5K
35.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.8K
$618ALL 50.7K
167.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$21.0K
$430ALL 35.2K
179.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$69.0K
$1,781ALL 146.0K
121.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$115.2K
$1,310ALL 107.4K
404.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Lezhe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.8K
$607ALL 49.8K
11.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4
185.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Last update for Lezhe: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $447 in Lezhe. 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 11% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $35.00 in Lezhe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $246 – making Lezhe 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 Lezhe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and in Lezhe compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, $1,038 in Lezhe – roughly 21% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Lezhe?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,557 in Lezhe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Playa del Carmen and Lezhe?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Lezhe, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 2% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $35.00 in Lezhe. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lezhe, where all-in costs run around $1,038, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Lezhe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Lezhe?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,038 in Lezhe to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Lezhe?
If budget matters most, go with Lezhe. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared