Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Lowell, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Lowell, MA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,262 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,658 in Lowell, MA, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,158 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,230 in Lowell, MA, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,054 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,802 in Lowell, MA, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 53% cheaper than Lowell, MA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Lowell, MA is 97% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.61 MX$201

$19.12 $19.12

-39.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.75 MX$742

$80.8 $80.8

-47.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.60 MX$184

$8.88 $8.88

19.37%

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.3

$4.48 $4.48

-19.87%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 MX$25.21

$2.04 $2.04

-28.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 MX$15.58

$1.66 $1.66

-45.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MX$52.6

$5.94 $5.94

-48.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.56 MX$79.2

$7.66 $7.66

-40.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 MX$25.20

$0.87 $0.87

66.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 MX$31.72

$2.15 $2.15

-14.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 MX$27.92

$3.12 $3.12

-48.40%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$44.05

$3.90 $3.90

-34.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.54 MX$148

$10.64 $10.64

-19.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.47 MX$147

$8.87 $8.87

-4.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 MX$189

$21.05 $21.05

-48.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 MX$47.37

$2.79 $2.79

-2.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 MX$25.91

$1.16 $1.16

28.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 MX$33.73

$5.85 $5.85

-66.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.57

$5.77 $5.77

-62.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.05

$1.60 $1.60

15.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$38.00

$4.34 $4.34

-49.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.62

$3.04 $3.04

-64.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.81

$2.19 $2.19

-50.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.06 MX$70.5

$11.19 $11.19

-63.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.46 MX$182

$14.97 $14.97

-30.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 MX$28.71

$1.77 $1.77

-6.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 MX$44.23

$1.94 $1.94

31.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 MX$9.65

$1.84 $1.84

-69.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.20 MX$455

$55.0 $55.0

-52.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 MX$54.5

$3.98 $3.98

-21.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.37 MX$41.17

$1.78 $1.78

33.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 MX$56.2

$28.64 $28.64

-88.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.81

$0.90 $0.90

45.56%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.5K MX$530.2K

$30.0K $30.0K

1.73%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.8K MX$413.6K

$25.9K $25.9K

-7.88%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.1 MX$1,443

$185 $185

-55.07%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.15 MX$385

$52.6 $52.6

-57.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.37 MX$510

$65.2 $65.2

-54.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.2 MX$889

$40.05 $40.05

27.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.69 MX$324

Cinema Ticket

$4.89 MX$84.9

$14.17 $14.17

-65.49%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$199 MX$3,449

$1,390 $1,390

-85.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,207 MX$90.4K

$23.7K $23.7K

-77.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.93 MX$624

$51.5 $51.5

-30.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.39 MX$684

$33.08 $33.08

19.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.3 MX$1,394

$65.0 $65.0

23.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.6 MX$1,520

$68.8 $68.8

27.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$963 MX$16.7K

$1,628 $1,628

-40.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 MX$8,370

$1,463 $1,463

-67.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,645 MX$28.6K

$3,759 $3,759

-56.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,192 MX$20.7K

$3,167 $3,167

-62.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,957 MX$68.7K

$3,517 $3,517

12.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,513 MX$113.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$726 MX$12.6K

$3,931 $3,931

-81.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

6.45

77.05%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

Last update for Lowell, MA: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,628 in Lowell, MA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 441% higher in Lowell, MA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $81 in Lowell, MA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $366 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Lowell, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Lowell, MA is pricier by about 111%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,894 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,987 in Lowell, MA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 110% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $199 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,390 in Lowell, MA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,262, than in Lowell, MA at $2,658. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lowell, MA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lowell, MA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.