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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $705 in Lutsk.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,126 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,034 in Lutsk.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,980 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,363 in Lutsk.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 80% more expensive than Lutsk, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Lutsk 48% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Lutsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87 MX$204
$3.22 ₴144
268.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90 MX$736
$19.58 ₴880
119.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.65 MX$183
$4.77 ₴215
123.27%
Cappuccino
$3.45 MX$59.2
$1.10 ₴49.48
213.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 MX$25.81
$0.51 ₴23.03
194.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 MX$16.28
$0.35 ₴15.52
171.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$51.9
$1.14 ₴51.0
165.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 MX$79.1
$1.25 ₴56.3
268.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Lutsk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.61
$1.02 ₴45.83
35.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$31.70
$0.63 ₴28.29
193.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.65
$1.17 ₴52.4
37.61%
Eggs
$2.59 MX$44.51
$1.84 ₴82.6
40.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.26 MX$142
$7.62 ₴342
8.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.37 MX$144
$3.94 ₴177
112.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.66 MX$183
$6.12 ₴275
74.18%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 MX$45.12
$0.64 ₴28.94
310.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.53
$1.49 ₴66.9
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 MX$32.94
$1.51 ₴67.8
27.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$35.81
$2.10 ₴94.3
-0.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$31.88
$0.67 ₴30.19
177.61%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.81
$0.55 ₴24.66
310.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 MX$18.23
$1.92 ₴86.2
-44.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.67
$0.52 ₴23.56
109.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15 MX$71.2
$2.70 ₴121
53.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.39 MX$178
$6.54 ₴294
58.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$29.59
$0.75 ₴33.86
129.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$44.85
$2.19 ₴98.2
19.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Lutsk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.30
$0.35 ₴15.74
54.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.94 MX$462
$22.81 ₴1,025
18.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$53.7
$1.44 ₴64.6
117.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.51 MX$43.09
$0.25 ₴11.31
904.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.15 MX$54.1
$3.71 ₴167
-15.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$21.88
$1.36 ₴61.2
-6.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K MX$521.3K
$28.6K ₴1.3M
6.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K MX$404.5K
$33.3K ₴1.5M
-29.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Lutsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 MX$1,425
$77.9 ₴3,498
6.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71 MX$390
$5.16 ₴232
340.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46 MX$506
$5.68 ₴255
418.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Lutsk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 MX$875
$31.86 ₴1,431
60.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33 MX$315
$8.03 ₴361
128.27%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93 MX$84.5
$3.74 ₴168
31.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Lutsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,386
$287 ₴12.9K
-31.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,280 MX$90.6K
$4,302 ₴193.3K
22.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Lutsk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90 MX$633
$39.86 ₴1,791
-7.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89 MX$685
$51.1 ₴2,294
-21.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.0 MX$1,373
$60.2 ₴2,705
32.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5 MX$1,536
$87.4 ₴3,928
2.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Lutsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$956 MX$16.4K
$307 ₴13.8K
211.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$477 MX$8,189
$206 ₴9,269
131.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,646 MX$28.3K
$395 ₴17.7K
316.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,225 MX$21.0K
$292 ₴13.1K
319.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,918 MX$67.2K
$997 ₴44.8K
292.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,459 MX$110.9K
$763 ₴34.3K
746.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Lutsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$667 MX$11.4K
$419 ₴18.8K
59.34%
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Lutsk: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $956 in Playa del Carmen and $307 in Lutsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 59% 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: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $20.00 in Lutsk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $156 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 Lutsk?
Playa del Carmen and Lutsk differ by about 80% in total monthly costs ($1,271 vs $705 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?
Playa del Carmen pays 59% more on average, 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 Lutsk?
Rent for a central apartment: $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $307 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 $20.00 versus $43.00 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 $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $705 in Lutsk – a 80% 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 $705 in Lutsk versus $1,271 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 80% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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