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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,521 in Lodz.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,245 in Lodz.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,969 in Lodz.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 15% less than in Lodz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 3% below, Lodz is 13% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Lodz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$11.06 zł 40.41
6.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$721
$48.39 zł 177
-13.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$8.25 zł 30.15
28.97%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$61.0
$3.62 zł 13.22
-2.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.17
$1.90 zł 6.94
-20.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.87
$1.62 zł 5.91
-40.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.1
$3.27 zł 11.95
-9.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.2
$4.02 zł 14.69
10.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Lodz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.97
$1.09 zł 3.98
26.61%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.78
$1.22 zł 4.46
54.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.37
$1.17 zł 4.29
40.17%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.42
$3.06 zł 11.18
-17.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$8.63 zł 31.54
-3.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$6.74 zł 24.61
23.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
$10.92 zł 39.90
-1.74%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.12
$1.21 zł 4.44
114.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.25
$1.78 zł 6.50
-17.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.94
$1.93 zł 7.05
-1.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.98
$2.81 zł 10.28
-25.98%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.77
$0.91 zł 3.31
95.60%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.87
$1.19 zł 4.35
84.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$18.02
$1.14 zł 4.18
-8.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.66
$0.56 zł 2.04
92.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.7
$5.10 zł 18.64
-20.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$179
$7.20 zł 26.30
43.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.67
$1.20 zł 4.38
42.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.63
$1.89 zł 6.90
36.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Lodz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.83
$1.20 zł 4.39
-57.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$459
$46.48 zł 170
-43.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.5
$2.16 zł 7.88
50.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.17
$0.49 zł 1.79
408.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.3
$9.69 zł 35.40
-66.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.65
$1.68 zł 6.15
-22.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$524.7K
$34.3K zł 125.1K
-11.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$406.0K
$29.1K zł 106.1K
-19.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Lodz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,436
$332 zł 1,212
-75.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$385
$8.53 zł 31.17
160.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$508
$16.64 zł 60.8
76.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Lodz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$895
$42.71 zł 156
20.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
$25.66 zł 93.7
-28.60%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.8
$8.35 zł 30.49
-39.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Lodz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,480
$332 zł 1,213
-39.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.3K
$9,335 zł 34.1K
-44.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Lodz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$640
$91.7 zł 335
-59.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$689
$30.73 zł 112
29.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,360
$75.4 zł 275
4.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,509
$95.8 zł 350
-9.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Lodz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.9K
$626 zł 2,287
55.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,105
$483 zł 1,764
-3.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$1,104 zł 4,032
48.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.2K
$878 zł 3,207
39.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.4K
$3,246 zł 11.9K
21.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.6K
$2,565 zł 9,371
153.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Lodz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
$1,676 zł 6,123
-60.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.78
68.44%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Lodz: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $626 in Lodz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lodz pays 152% 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 $48.00 in Lodz. Groceries flip the comparison at $249 vs $212, with Lodz 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 Lodz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Lodz?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Lodz. 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 Lodz?
On paper, Lodz earns 152% less. 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 vs Lodz?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $626 in Lodz. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or Lodz?
Shoppers in Lodz pay roughly 18% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen vs Lodz?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $48.00 in Lodz. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or Lodz?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,521 in Lodz, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Lodz. 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 Lodz?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,297 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 Lodz?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Lodz 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 Lodz. 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