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 28.2% more expensive than Luang Prabang without rent, and 19.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Playa del Carmen is 3.9% cheaper than Luang Prabang without rent, and 4.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Luang Prabang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61 MX$200
$1.89 LAK 41.6K
514.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$738
$17.42 LAK 382.8K
145.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.60 MX$183
$5.65 LAK 124.2K
87.61%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.0
$1.63 LAK 35.8K
120.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.08
$0.92 LAK 20.3K
57.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 MX$15.50
$0.55 LAK 12.0K
63.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$52.4
$1.37 LAK 30.0K
121.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56 MX$78.8
$1.17 LAK 25.7K
289.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Luang Prabang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 MX$25.07
$1.71 LAK 37.6K
-15.20%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 MX$31.55
$1.07 LAK 23.6K
71.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.77
$2.22 LAK 48.9K
-27.48%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$43.82
$2.36 LAK 51.9K
7.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.54 MX$148
$25.73 LAK 565.4K
-66.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.47 MX$146
$2.72 LAK 59.9K
211.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$188
$4.38 LAK 96.3K
147.95%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 MX$47.13
$1.36 LAK 30.0K
100.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.77
$2.16 LAK 47.5K
-31.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 MX$33.55
$2.15 LAK 47.2K
-9.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.38
$4.39 LAK 96.6K
-50.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$31.88
$1.44 LAK 31.7K
28.47%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.80
$1.00 LAK 22.1K
119.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.52
$1.05 LAK 23.0K
1.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.71
$0.71 LAK 15.5K
52.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06 MX$70.1
$2.05 LAK 45.0K
98.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.46 MX$181
$29.90 LAK 656.9K
-65.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 MX$28.56
$1.26 LAK 27.7K
30.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 MX$44.01
$0.81 LAK 17.8K
214.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Luang Prabang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.56 MX$9.60
$0.57 LAK 12.6K
-1.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.20 MX$453
$59.7 LAK 1.3M
-56.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$54.2
$0.96 LAK 21.1K
227.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.37 MX$40.96
$1.13 LAK 24.8K
109.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$56.0
$4.62 LAK 101.6K
-29.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.70
$1.14 LAK 25.1K
14.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K MX$527.4K
$29.2K LAK 642.1M
4.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$411.4K
$29.4K LAK 646.5M
-19.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Luang Prabang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.1 MX$1,436
$86.3 LAK 1.9M
-3.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15 MX$383
$5.34 LAK 117.3K
314.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37 MX$507
$6.95 LAK 152.8K
322.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Luang Prabang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.2 MX$884
$84.3 LAK 1.9M
-39.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 MX$323
$7.82 LAK 171.9K
139.00%
Cinema Ticket
$4.89 MX$84.4
$2.53 LAK 55.6K
93.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Luang Prabang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$199 MX$3,431
$257 LAK 5.6M
-22.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,207 MX$89.9K
$9,099 LAK 199.9M
-42.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Luang Prabang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93 MX$621
$72.5 LAK 1.6M
-50.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39 MX$680
$62.1 LAK 1.4M
-36.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.3 MX$1,387
$75.1 LAK 1.7M
6.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6 MX$1,512
$52.6 LAK 1.2M
66.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Luang Prabang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.6K
$1,153 LAK 25.3M
-16.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 MX$8,326
$849 LAK 18.6M
-43.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,645 MX$28.4K
$1,895 LAK 41.6M
-13.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,192 MX$20.6K
$1,714 LAK 37.7M
-30.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,957 MX$68.3K
$2,575 LAK 56.6M
53.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,513 MX$112.5K
$136 LAK 3.0M
4674.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Luang Prabang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$726 MX$12.5K
$200 LAK 4.4M
263.74%
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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Luang Prabang: April 11, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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