🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,476 in Lomza.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,098 in Lomza.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,720 in Lomza.
🙂Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 12% less than in Lomza, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 3% below, Lomza is 10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Lomza
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$9.48zł 34.56
23.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$719
$40.65zł 148
2.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$8.16zł 29.75
30.39%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.8
$3.19zł 11.65
10.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.09
$2.12zł 7.72
-28.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.82
$1.63zł 5.95
-40.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$2.93zł 10.70
0.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$3.59zł 13.08
23.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Lomza
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.90
$1.05zł 3.83
31.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.69
$1.23zł 4.49
53.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.29
$1.61zł 5.86
1.86%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.30
$3.38zł 12.33
-25.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$7.99zł 29.12
4.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$6.23zł 22.74
33.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$185
$9.62zł 35.07
11.54%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.00
$1.14zł 4.17
128.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.18
$1.59zł 5.81
-8.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.84
$1.63zł 5.95
16.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.88
$2.50zł 9.11
-16.80%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.68
$0.98zł 3.56
81.63%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.76
$1.19zł 4.34
84.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.97
$1.31zł 4.76
-20.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.60
$0.65zł 2.36
66.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.5
$5.21zł 18.99
-21.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$7.33zł 26.74
40.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.59
$1.07zł 3.89
59.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.50
$1.80zł 6.56
43.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Lomza
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$1.10zł 4.02
-53.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$457
$32.16zł 117
-17.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$2.14zł 7.82
52.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.05
$0.77zł 2.82
223.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.1
$10.56zł 38.51
-69.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.59
$1.79zł 6.52
-26.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.2K
$33.8Kzł 123.1K
-10.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$404.9K
$30.7Kzł 112.0K
-23.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Lomza
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,432
$290zł 1,056
-71.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$7.64zł 27.87
190.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$16.02zł 58.4
83.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Lomza
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$892
$37.01zł 135
39.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
$19.45zł 70.9
-5.81%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.5
$8.47zł 30.90
-40.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Lomza
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,470
$503zł 1,832
-60.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$4,707zł 17.2K
10.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Lomza
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$638
$90.3zł 329
-59.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$44.63zł 163
-10.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,356
$102zł 373
-23.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,505
$125zł 456
-30.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Lomza
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$650zł 2,370
49.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,082
$485zł 1,769
-3.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$971zł 3,542
68.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$823zł 3,001
48.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.2K
$3,137zł 11.4K
25.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.3K
$2,130zł 7,765
205.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Lomza
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.28
81.85%
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 Lomza: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $650 in Lomza. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $41.00 in Lomza for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $203 per month, with Lomza 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 Lomza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lomza cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,945 in Playa del Carmen and $2,214 in Lomza 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.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Lomza?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $650 in Lomza. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 22% less than in Lomza. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $503 in Lomza. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Lomza?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,476 in Lomza, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Lomza. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Lomza more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lomza, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Lomza?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Lomza 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Lomza. 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