🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,495 in Lodz.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,201 in Lodz.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,907 in Lodz.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 16% less than in Lodz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Lodz is 12% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Lodz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$10.98zł 41.65
9.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
$48.34zł 183
-13.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$8.36zł 31.71
28.59%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$3.62zł 13.75
-3.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$1.83zł 6.94
-20.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
$1.70zł 6.45
-48.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
$3.32zł 12.61
-11.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
$3.98zł 15.11
13.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Lodz
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.03zł 3.91
38.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$1.24zł 4.72
48.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
$1.17zł 4.45
34.19%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$3.04zł 11.52
-17.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$8.75zł 33.18
-5.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$6.76zł 25.64
24.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$10.92zł 41.44
-2.20%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
$1.15zł 4.37
126.96%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
$1.78zł 6.75
-19.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
$2.01zł 7.62
-2.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
$2.85zł 10.81
-26.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
$0.91zł 3.47
103.30%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
$1.19zł 4.52
82.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
$1.20zł 4.56
-14.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$0.59zł 2.25
81.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$5.03zł 19.08
-18.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
$6.93zł 26.28
46.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
$1.21zł 4.59
38.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
$1.96zł 7.43
29.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Lodz
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
$1.18zł 4.47
-56.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
$46.31zł 176
-43.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$2.22zł 8.43
45.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
$0.51zł 1.94
372.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
$9.53zł 36.15
-66.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$1.71zł 6.49
-22.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
$33.2Kzł 125.8K
-10.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$29.0Kzł 110.1K
-18.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Lodz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$335zł 1,270
-75.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
$8.44zł 32.02
171.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$17.08zł 64.8
76.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Lodz
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
$42.89zł 163
21.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
$26.01zł 98.7
-28.76%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$8.07zł 30.63
-38.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Lodz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
$341zł 1,293
-42.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
$9,485zł 36.0K
-43.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Lodz
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
$93.4zł 354
-61.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$30.84zł 117
30.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
$77.0zł 292
2.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
$93.1zł 353
-4.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Lodz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
$623zł 2,365
51.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
$482zł 1,830
-1.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
$1,131zł 4,291
45.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
$889zł 3,372
36.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
$3,199zł 12.1K
26.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.7K
$2,451zł 9,299
163.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Lodz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
$1,637zł 6,212
-60.06%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Lodz: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $947 in Playa del Carmen and $623 in Lodz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lodz pays 150% 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 19% 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 in Lodz?
On paper, salaries run 150% lower in Lodz. 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 Lodz?
Rent for a central apartment: $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $623 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 in Lodz?
Shoppers in Lodz pay roughly 17% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in 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 in Lodz?
At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,495 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 $1,256 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 19% 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