๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,262 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,727 in Lizzano.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,158 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,630 in Lizzano.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,054 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,532 in Lizzano.
๐Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 27% less than in Lizzano, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Lizzano is 28% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Lizzano
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61MX$201
$17.40โฌ14.81
-33.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$742
$72.2โฌ61.4
-40.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.60MX$184
$12.57โฌ10.70
-15.67%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.3
$1.88โฌ1.60
90.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.21
$2.15โฌ1.83
-32.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90MX$15.58
$1.35โฌ1.15
-33.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$4.75โฌ4.04
-36.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56MX$79.2
$4.71โฌ4.01
-3.18%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Lizzano
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45MX$25.20
$1.78โฌ1.51
-18.54%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83MX$31.72
$2.13โฌ1.81
-14.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.92
$2.84โฌ2.42
-43.31%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.05
$3.91โฌ3.33
-35.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.54MX$148
$14.46โฌ12.30
-40.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.47MX$147
$12.21โฌ10.39
-30.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$189
$18.00โฌ15.32
-39.67%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.37
$2.35โฌ2.00
16.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.91
$2.04โฌ1.73
-26.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94MX$33.73
$2.11โฌ1.79
-8.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.57
$3.18โฌ2.71
-32.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.05
$1.75โฌ1.49
5.71%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.00
$1.77โฌ1.51
23.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.62
$1.35โฌ1.15
-20.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.81
$0.49โฌ0.42
120.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06MX$70.5
$6.89โฌ5.86
-41.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.46MX$182
$7.66โฌ6.52
36.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65MX$28.71
$1.42โฌ1.21
16.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55MX$44.23
$2.01โฌ1.71
26.87%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Lizzano
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MX$9.65
$1.70โฌ1.45
-67.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.20MX$455
$43.97โฌ37.42
-40.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$54.5
$5.90โฌ5.02
-46.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.37MX$41.17
$2.03โฌ1.73
16.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.2
$34.39โฌ29.27
-90.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.81
$2.02โฌ1.72
-35.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5KMX$530.2K
$35.1Kโฌ29.9K
-13.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$413.6K
$26.5Kโฌ22.5K
-10.09%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Lizzano
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.1MX$1,443
$188โฌ160
-55.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15MX$385
$13.52โฌ11.51
63.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37MX$510
$29.57โฌ25.16
-0.68%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Lizzano
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.2MX$889
$54.3โฌ46.18
-5.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69MX$324
$23.05โฌ19.62
-18.92%
Cinema Ticket
$4.89MX$84.9
$8.73โฌ7.43
-43.99%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Lizzano
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$199MX$3,449
$628โฌ534
-68.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,207MX$90.4K
$8,023โฌ6,828
-35.10%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Lizzano
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93MX$624
$101โฌ86.2
-64.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39MX$684
$49.25โฌ41.91
-20.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.3MX$1,394
$105โฌ89.7
-23.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6MX$1,520
$150โฌ128
-41.57%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Lizzano
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.7K
$751โฌ639
28.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482MX$8,370
$588โฌ500
-17.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,645MX$28.6K
$1,212โฌ1,031
35.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,192MX$20.7K
$941โฌ800
26.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,957MX$68.7K
$2,975โฌ2,532
33.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,513MX$113.1K
$1,826โฌ1,554
256.68%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Lizzano
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$726MX$12.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4.74
140.93%
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 Lizzano: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $751 in Lizzano. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $43 in Playa del Carmen vs $72 in Lizzano for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $253 vs $319 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 Lizzano: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and Lizzano?
Playa del Carmen and Lizzano differ by about 37% in total monthly costs ($1,262 vs $1,727 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Lizzano?
You'd need roughly $1,894 in Playa del Carmen and $2,591 in Lizzano 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 do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Lizzano?
Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $751 in Lizzano. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Playa del Carmen and Lizzano?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 68% less than in Lizzano. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Lizzano?
Childcare runs $199 in Playa del Carmen versus $628 in Lizzano. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,262 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,727 in Lizzano, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Lizzano. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Lizzano?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Playa del Carmen or Lizzano safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Lizzano are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Lizzano?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 37% less than in Lizzano. 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