🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,485 in Longford.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,654 in Longford.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,822 in Longford.
🙂Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 48% less than in Longford, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 3% below, Longford is 85% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Longford
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$20.10€17.29
-41.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$720
$92.1€79.2
-54.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$10.35€8.91
2.80%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.9
$4.31€3.71
-18.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.12
$2.19€1.88
-31.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.84
$1.69€1.46
-42.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$5.66€4.87
-47.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$5.85€5.03
-23.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Longford
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.93
$1.06€0.91
30.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.72
$2.17€1.87
-12.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.32
$1.53€1.31
7.19%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.34
$4.72€4.06
-46.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$7.77€6.68
7.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$13.11€11.28
-36.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$12.49€10.74
-14.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.04
$3.65€3.14
-28.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.20
$2.04€1.76
-28.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.87
$3.60€3.10
-47.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.91
$4.39€3.78
-52.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.71
$1.35€1.16
31.85%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.80
$1.56€1.34
40.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.99
$1.21€1.04
-14.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.62
$2.40€2.07
-55.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.6
$18.59€15.99
-78.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$14.03€12.07
-26.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.61
$2.28€1.96
-25.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.54
$3.31€2.85
-22.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Longford
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$2.40€2.06
-78.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$458
$100€86.0
-73.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$5.66€4.87
-42.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.09
$2.67€2.30
-6.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.2
$69.7€59.9
-95.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.61
$2.03€1.74
-35.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.7K
$43.2K€37.2K
-29.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$405.3K
$40.1K€34.5K
-41.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Longford
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,433
$189€163
-56.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$22.59€19.43
-1.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$40.75€35.05
-28.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Longford
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$893
$70.1€60.3
-26.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
$35.14€30.23
-47.87%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.6
$11.38€9.79
-55.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Longford
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,473
$968€833
-79.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$2,293€1,972
127.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Longford
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$639
$45.75€39.35
-19.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$34.23€29.45
16.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,357
$64.8€55.7
21.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,506
$58.0€49.87
50.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Longford
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$1,245€1,071
-21.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,090
$1,222€1,052
-61.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$2,119€1,822
-22.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$1,988€1,710
-38.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.3K
$4,061€3,494
-2.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.4K
$2,873€2,472
126.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Longford
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
$1,527€1,314
-56.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4.53
152.10%
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 Longford: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $1,245 in Longford. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Longford pays 130% 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 $92.0 in Longford for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $337 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 Longford: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Longford cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 92% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Longford?
On paper, Longford earns 130% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Longford?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,245 in Longford. 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 278% less than in Longford. 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 $968 in Longford. 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 Longford?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,485 in Longford, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Longford. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Longford more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Longford, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Longford?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Longford 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 92% less than in Longford. 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