Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Lubumbashi Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Lubumbashi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,117 in Lubumbashi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,556 in Lubumbashi, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,995 in Lubumbashi, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 16% more than Lubumbashi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Lubumbashi are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Lubumbashi 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$12.46 CDF 28.3K

-5.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$720

$98.3 CDF 223.2K

-57.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$9.91 CDF 22.5K

7.37%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$60.9

$3.98 CDF 9,031

-11.56%

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

$1.51 MX$26.12

$0.97 CDF 2,209

55.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.84

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

$1.77 CDF 4,012

66.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

$2.47 CDF 5,600

80.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.93

$2.01 CDF 4,570

-31.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.72

$1.15 CDF 2,618

64.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.32

$2.92 CDF 6,628

-43.84%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.34

$2.63 CDF 5,972

-4.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$15.22 CDF 34.5K

-45.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$7.35 CDF 16.7K

13.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$15.54 CDF 35.3K

-30.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.04

$2.01 CDF 4,573

29.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.20

$2.95 CDF 6,687

-50.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.87

$5.11 CDF 11.6K

-62.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.91

$2.94 CDF 6,677

-29.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.71

$2.46 CDF 5,581

-27.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.80

$1.95 CDF 4,431

12.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.99

$0.99 CDF 2,244

5.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.62

$1.27 CDF 2,881

-14.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.6

$4.03 CDF 9,146

1.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

$12.68 CDF 28.8K

-18.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.61

$1.20 CDF 2,730

42.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.54

$2.08 CDF 4,724

24.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

$0.98 CDF 2,233

-47.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

$4.46 CDF 10.1K

-26.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

$9.82 CDF 22.3K

-66.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.61

$1.36 CDF 3,084

-3.68%

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

$30.3K MX$523.7K

$24.7K CDF 56.1M

22.56%

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

$23.4K MX$405.3K

$29.5K CDF 66.9M

-20.47%

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

$82.9 MX$1,433

$98.9 CDF 224.5K

-16.21%

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

$22.22 MX$384

$20.35 CDF 46.2K

9.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

$59.4 CDF 134.8K

-50.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$893

$72.2 CDF 164.0K

-28.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.6

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

$201 MX$3,473

$132 CDF 299.9K

52.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

$4,465 CDF 10.1M

16.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$639

$22.38 CDF 50.8K

64.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

$22.32 CDF 50.7K

78.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,357

$60.5 CDF 137.3K

29.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,506

$84.3 CDF 191.4K

3.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

$764 CDF 1.7M

27.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,090

$249 CDF 565.0K

87.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$2,858 CDF 6.5M

-42.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

$1,813 CDF 4.1M

-32.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

$988 CDF 2.2M

299.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

$502 CDF 1.1M

1194.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

$1,068 CDF 2.4M

-37.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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 Lubumbashi: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $764 in Lubumbashi. 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 61% higher in Lubumbashi, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $98.0 in Lubumbashi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $312 – 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 Lubumbashi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, $1,117 in Lubumbashi – roughly 16% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,676 in Lubumbashi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $1,117 in Lubumbashi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $132 in Lubumbashi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lubumbashi, where all-in costs run around $1,117, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Lubumbashi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,117 in Lubumbashi to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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