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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,294 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,517 in Livadeia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,189 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,188 in Livadeia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,084 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,858 in Livadeia.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 15% less than in Livadeia, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 3% below, Livadeia is 14% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Livadeia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$204
$13.06 €11.40
-10.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78 MX$725
$36.90 €32.19
13.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.41 MX$181
$8.64 €7.54
20.49%
Cappuccino
$3.61 MX$62.6
$3.49 €3.04
3.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 MX$25.28
$1.64 €1.43
-10.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.84
$0.61 €0.53
59.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 MX$50.8
$4.74 €4.13
-38.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62 MX$80.2
$3.94 €3.44
17.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Livadeia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.80
$1.47 €1.29
-2.72%
White Bread (500g)
$1.90 MX$32.98
$1.30 €1.14
46.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$27.18
$2.22 €1.94
-29.28%
Eggs
$2.64 MX$45.73
$4.05 €3.53
-34.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.44 MX$146
$13.91 €12.14
-39.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.58 MX$149
$9.89 €8.63
-13.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.00 MX$191
$13.29 €11.60
-17.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.70 MX$46.91
$2.37 €2.07
13.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$26.15
$1.89 €1.65
-20.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.91 MX$33.22
$0.94 €0.82
103.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.69
$1.85 €1.61
17.30%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.53
$1.12 €0.98
66.96%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 MX$38.76
$0.95 €0.83
134.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.76
$1.01 €0.88
6.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.63
$0.42 €0.37
154.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16 MX$72.2
$4.66 €4.07
-10.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.29 MX$179
$6.47 €5.65
59.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$29.20
$1.64 €1.43
2.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 MX$43.96
$1.94 €1.69
30.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Livadeia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$9.61
$1.55 €1.35
-64.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.29 MX$456
$46.55 €40.62
-43.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.20 MX$55.5
$7.22 €6.30
-55.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.46 MX$42.73
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.20 MX$55.5
$13.44 €11.73
-76.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$22.91
$2.10 €1.83
-37.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K MX$523.3K
$28.2K €24.6K
6.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$406.0K
$24.6K €21.5K
-4.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Livadeia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.4 MX$1,412
$302 €264
-73.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.41 MX$389
$23.05 €20.11
-2.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.97 MX$520
$31.36 €27.36
-4.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Livadeia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$895
$58.1 €50.7
-11.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 MX$319
$26.37 €23.00
-30.26%
Cinema Ticket
$5.16 MX$89.6
$9.95 €8.69
-48.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Livadeia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$202 MX$3,501
$513 €448
-60.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,311 MX$92.2K
$5,454 €4,759
-2.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Livadeia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.61 MX$618
$94.1 €82.1
-62.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.37 MX$701
$34.03 €29.69
18.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.6 MX$1,365
$92.3 €80.6
-14.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.9 MX$1,507
$94.6 €82.6
-8.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Livadeia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$950 MX$16.5K
$506 €442
87.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$478 MX$8,298
$391 €341
22.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 MX$28.1K
$770 €672
110.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,223 MX$21.2K
$613 €535
99.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,009 MX$69.6K
$3,493 €3,048
14.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,473 MX$112.3K
$2,170 €1,894
198.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Livadeia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$673 MX$11.7K
$992 €865
-32.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
4.34
163.13%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026

Last update for Livadeia: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $950 in Playa del Carmen and $506 in Livadeia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Livadeia pays 47% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $37.00 in Livadeia. Groceries flip the comparison at $254 vs $259, with Playa del Carmen cheaper for home cooking.

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 Livadeia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Livadeia?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Livadeia. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or in Livadeia?
On paper, salaries run 47% lower in Livadeia. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen compared to Livadeia?
Rent for a central apartment: $950 in Playa del Carmen versus $506 in Livadeia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen compared to Livadeia?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 77% less than in Livadeia. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Livadeia?
Childcare runs $202 in Playa del Carmen versus $513 in Livadeia. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or in Livadeia?
At $1,294 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,517 in Livadeia, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Livadeia. 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 Livadeia?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,294 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 Livadeia?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Livadeia 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 – expenses run 17% less than in Livadeia. 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

Similar cities