😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,031 in Lezhe, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,555 in Lezhe, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,079 in Lezhe, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 25% more than Lezhe, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Lezhe are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, Lezhe23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Lezhe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$5.37ALL 438
122.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$35.74ALL 2,919
19.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$3.61ALL 295
193.35%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$0.91ALL 73.9
297.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$1.38ALL 113
6.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.74ALL 60.7
27.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$1.39ALL 114
122.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$2.33ALL 190
91.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Lezhe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.96ALL 160
-27.04%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$0.87ALL 70.8
116.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$2.00ALL 164
-18.50%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$2.92ALL 238
-9.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$9.59ALL 783
-14.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$7.94ALL 649
4.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$13.11ALL 1,070
-15.33%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$1.87ALL 153
41.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$2.34ALL 191
-35.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$1.74ALL 142
14.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$1.39ALL 113
49.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$1.04ALL 85.1
72.12%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$1.24ALL 101
75.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$1.09ALL 89.1
-0.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.72ALL 58.8
44.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$3.96ALL 324
0.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$10.26ALL 838
-0.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.67ALL 137
3.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$1.74ALL 142
43.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Lezhe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$0.46ALL 37.19
13.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
$18.52ALL 1,512
45.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$3.43ALL 280
-8.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$3.07ALL 250
-21.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$17.41ALL 1,422
-82.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$2.11ALL 172
-39.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$34.4KALL 2.8M
-10.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$24.9KALL 2.0M
-6.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Lezhe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$66.8ALL 5,451
22.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$17.49ALL 1,428
28.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$15.72ALL 1,284
88.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Lezhe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$54.3ALL 4,430
-4.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$24.89ALL 2,032
-24.99%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$8.38ALL 684
-40.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Lezhe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$176ALL 14.3K
12.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Lezhe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$47.39ALL 3,869
-23.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$52.9ALL 4,322
-24.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$93.9ALL 7,670
-14.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$141ALL 11.5K
-37.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Lezhe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$443ALL 36.2K
117.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$336ALL 27.5K
38.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$619ALL 50.5K
158.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$443ALL 36.2K
172.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$1,853ALL 151.3K
112.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$1,220ALL 99.6K
428.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Lezhe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$609ALL 49.7K
18.30%
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: April 25, 2026
Last update for Lezhe: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $443 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 18% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $36.00 in Lezhe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $244 – 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 Lezhe compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, $1,031 in Lezhe – roughly 25% 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 $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,546 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 3% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen and $36.00 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 $1,031, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. 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 $1,031 in Lezhe to $1,287 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