Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Lufkin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Lufkin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,587 in Lufkin, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,786 in Lufkin, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,984 in Lufkin, TX, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 51% cheaper than Lufkin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 5% below the global median, while Lufkin, TX is 94% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 MX$203

$17.91 $17.91

-34.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.89 MX$725

$75.4 $75.4

-44.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 MX$182

$9.98 $9.98

5.31%

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.0

$4.81 $4.81

-25.36%

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

$1.51 MX$26.10

$2.49 $2.49

-39.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 MX$15.83

$1.92 $1.92

-52.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 MX$51.2

$6.04 $6.04

-50.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 MX$76.3

$8.22 $8.22

-46.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MX$24.16

$1.01 $1.01

38.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.60

$2.19 $2.19

-14.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 MX$26.97

$2.75 $2.75

-43.27%

Eggs

$2.61 MX$45.14

$7.71 $7.71

-66.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 MX$144

$15.21 $15.21

-45.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.35 MX$145

$13.36 $13.36

-37.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 MX$188

$19.05 $19.05

-42.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 MX$46.93

$5.88 $5.88

-53.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$26.04

$1.46 $1.46

3.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.41

$1.89 $1.89

-1.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.89

$5.18 $5.18

-57.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.14

$1.13 $1.13

64.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.59

$2.40 $2.40

-7.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.48

$2.24 $2.24

-52.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.79

$2.26 $2.26

-51.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.4

$9.11 $9.11

-54.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.43 MX$180

$20.25 $20.25

-48.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 MX$28.68

$1.68 $1.68

-1.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$45.19

$2.97 $2.97

-12.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

$1.95 $1.95

-72.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 MX$53.3

$2.98 $2.98

3.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.61

$1.70 $1.70

41.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.1

$29.39 $29.39

-89.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.69

$0.74 $0.74

77.03%

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

$29.8K MX$515.7K

$34.8K $34.8K

-14.45%

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

$23.3K MX$403.5K

$31.8K $31.8K

-26.74%

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

$81.3 MX$1,406

$190 $190

-57.21%

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

$22.56 MX$390

$45.73 $45.73

-50.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.05 MX$520

$64.7 $64.7

-53.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$915

$43.44 $43.44

21.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MX$85.1

$13.17 $13.17

-62.64%

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

$201 MX$3,474

$1,343 $1,343

-85.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$89.5K

$23.9K $23.9K

-78.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.92 MX$622

$22.18 $22.18

61.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.13 MX$694

$35.13 $35.13

14.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 MX$1,379

$103 $103

-22.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,496

$111 $111

-22.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$978 MX$16.9K

$1,577 $1,577

-37.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MX$8,140

$1,347 $1,347

-65.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 MX$28.6K

$2,682 $2,682

-38.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 MX$20.8K

$2,188 $2,188

-45.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

$2,516 $2,516

57.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

$2,247 $2,247

194.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MX$11.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

6.49

75.96%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Last update for Lufkin, TX: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,577 in Lufkin, TX. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $75.0 in Lufkin, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $414 – 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 Lufkin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lufkin, TX costs about 105% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,881 in Lufkin, TX. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $75.0 in Lufkin, TX. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 65% more in Lufkin, TX, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,260, than in Lufkin, TX at $2,587. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lufkin, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,260 versus $2,587 in Lufkin, TX. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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