😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $694 in Lutsk.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,016 in Lutsk.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,337 in Lutsk.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 82% more expensive than in Lutsk, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen5% lower, Lutsk48% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Lutsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$3.20₴143
266.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$18.97₴848
120.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$4.86₴217
116.26%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$1.16₴51.8
209.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$0.52₴23.20
190.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$0.32₴14.12
187.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$1.09₴48.84
171.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$1.26₴56.5
250.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Lutsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$1.03₴46.02
35.92%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$0.59₴26.28
218.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$1.12₴49.87
39.29%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$1.80₴80.5
45.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$7.83₴350
6.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$3.78₴169
120.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$6.23₴278
74.32%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$0.61₴27.08
344.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$1.48₴66.0
2.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$1.53₴68.5
22.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$2.08₴93.2
5.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$0.72₴32.14
158.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$0.51₴22.84
337.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$1.95₴87.4
-45.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$0.53₴23.62
105.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$2.76₴123
51.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
$4.09₴183
155.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$0.78₴34.77
112.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
$2.24₴99.9
16.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Lutsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$0.35₴15.76
54.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
$23.14₴1,034
13.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$1.49₴66.7
106.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
$0.25₴11.18
860.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$3.71₴166
-15.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$1.32₴59.0
-0.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$28.5K₴1.3M
4.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$34.2K₴1.5M
-31.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Lutsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
$77.5₴3,463
4.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
$5.16₴231
337.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$5.89₴263
410.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Lutsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$32.65₴1,459
62.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
$7.73₴345
137.90%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
$3.56₴159
38.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Lutsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$280₴12.5K
-28.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$4,239₴189.4K
22.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Lutsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$38.89₴1,738
-7.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$50.4₴2,253
-20.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$61.2₴2,734
30.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$87.3₴3,901
-0.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Lutsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$305₴13.6K
220.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
$204₴9,106
130.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$395₴17.6K
318.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
$299₴13.4K
301.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
$1,012₴45.2K
290.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
$761₴34.0K
767.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Lutsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
$414₴18.5K
63.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
14.5
-21.24%
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 Lutsk: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $978 in Playa del Carmen and $305 in Lutsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 63% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $19.00 in Lutsk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $151 per month, with Lutsk cheaper across the board.
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 Lutsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and in Lutsk?
Playa del Carmen and Lutsk differ by about 82% in total monthly costs ($1,260 vs $694 including rent). Lutsk is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Playa del Carmen or Lutsk?
Average pay runs 63% higher in Playa del Carmen, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Lutsk?
Rent for a central apartment: $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $305 in Lutsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Lutsk – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Lutsk?
All in, you'll spend $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $694 in Lutsk – a 82% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $694 in Lutsk versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lutsk but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Lutsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Lutsk?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Playa del Carmen or Lutsk safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Lutsk are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Lutsk?
Expats usually find Lutsk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 82% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared