Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Luang Prabang Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Luang Prabang

😐 Solo nomad: Playa del Carmen is 21.2% more expensive than Luang Prabang without rent, and 18.6% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Playa del Carmen is 13.5% more expensive than Luang Prabang without rent, and 4.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Luang Prabang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$227
$1.9 LAK 40.8K
531.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.47 MX$803
$17.95 LAK 385.2K
136.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.47 MX$198
$5.43 LAK 116.6K
92.82%
Cappuccino
$3.6 MX$68.2
$1.63 LAK 35K
120.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 MX$27.16
$0.88 LAK 19K
63.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 MX$16.79
$0.6 LAK 12.8K
48.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$58.5
$1.37 LAK 29.3K
125.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 MX$86.6
$1.15 LAK 24.7K
298.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Luang Prabang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$26.04
$1.76 LAK 37.7K
-21.59%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$34.9
$1.12 LAK 24K
65.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$29.68
$2.24 LAK 48.1K
-29.91%
Eggs
$2.55 MX$48.3
$2.44 LAK 52.5K
4.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.61 MX$163
$25.82 LAK 554.2K
-66.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.54 MX$161
$2.6 LAK 55.8K
228.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.98 MX$208
$4.49 LAK 96.3K
144.54%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 MX$51.4
$1.36 LAK 29.1K
100.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$28.57
$2.22 LAK 47.7K
-31.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 MX$35.63
$2.21 LAK 47.5K
-14.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.42
$4.44 LAK 95.2K
-50.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 MX$35.3
$1.44 LAK 30.9K
29.86%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.37
$0.95 LAK 20.4K
130.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$20.23
$1.05 LAK 22.5K
1.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$20.64
$0.76 LAK 16.3K
43.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 MX$74.9
$1.97 LAK 42.3K
101.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.86 MX$167
$29.5 LAK 633.1K
-69.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$32.53
$1.21 LAK 26K
42.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$49.37
$0.88 LAK 18.8K
196.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Luang Prabang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.74
$0.62 LAK 13.3K
-16.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.59 MX$503
$58.8 LAK 1.3M
-54.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$61.2
$0.9 LAK 19.3K
260.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.38 MX$44.94
$1.17 LAK 25.1K
103.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 MX$58.7
$4.58 LAK 98.2K
-32.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$24.85
$1.15 LAK 24.7K
13.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$573K
$29.2K LAK 627.7M
3.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24K MX$453.6K
$29.7K LAK 637.3M
-19.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Luang Prabang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.2 MX$1,592
$86 LAK 1.8M
-2.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.14 MX$419
$5.37 LAK 115.2K
312.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.14 MX$570
$7.01 LAK 150.4K
329.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Luang Prabang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52 MX$983
$84 LAK 1.8M
-38.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.72 MX$354
$7.94 LAK 170.3K
135.77%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$95.9
$2.47 LAK 53K
105.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Luang Prabang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$200 MX$3,787
$254 LAK 5.4M
-21.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,333 MX$100.8K
$9,278 LAK 199.1M
-42.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Luang Prabang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.74 MX$676
$72.4 LAK 1.6M
-50.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.8 MX$753
$60.7 LAK 1.3M
-34.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79 MX$1,493
$74.6 LAK 1.6M
5.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,671
$53.8 LAK 1.2M
64.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Luang Prabang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$965 MX$18.3K
$1,145 LAK 24.6M
-15.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,968
$838 LAK 18M
-43.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,653 MX$31.2K
$1,929 LAK 41.4M
-14.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,202 MX$22.7K
$1,672 LAK 35.9M
-28.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,081 MX$58.3K
$2,606 LAK 55.9M
18.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,529 MX$142.3K
$144 LAK 3.1M
5143.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Luang Prabang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$792 MX$15K
$199 LAK 4.3M
297.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
10.12
12.85%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

Last update for Luang Prabang: October 29, 2025

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