Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Lutsk

For one person, living is cheaper in Lutsk: $765 a month against $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $5,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Lutsk, Ukraine
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Lutsk
🇺🇦 Ukraine
$765
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Lutsk

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Lutsk actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $765 in Lutsk.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Lutsk $765

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,128 in Lutsk.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Lutsk $1,128

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,959 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,491 in Lutsk.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Lutsk $1,491

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 57% more expensive than in Lutsk, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 12% lower, Lutsk 44% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Lutsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$205
$3.91 ₴178
179.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$815
$20.01 ₴911
116.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$221
$6.05 ₴275
94.71%
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$71.6
$1.24 ₴56.3
207.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$24.10
$0.64 ₴29.00
100.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.71
$0.42 ₴19.19
85.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$59.5
$0.89 ₴40.74
256.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$92.7
$1.39 ₴63.5
254.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Lutsk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.43
$1.10 ₴50.0
28.18%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.66
$0.71 ₴32.14
212.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.64
$2.30 ₴105
-38.26%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$47.41
$2.06 ₴93.7
22.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$137
$9.46 ₴431
-23.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$145
$4.12 ₴188
86.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$239
$7.95 ₴362
59.62%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$52.3
$0.72 ₴32.64
286.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.71
$1.59 ₴72.4
-13.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.94
$1.38 ₴62.6
84.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.90
$2.49 ₴114
-14.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.43
$0.59 ₴26.80
228.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.44
$0.42 ₴19.01
350.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.55
$1.34 ₴61.2
-14.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$22.16
$0.52 ₴23.51
126.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$80.7
$2.68 ₴122
60.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$187
$5.50 ₴251
80.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.76
$0.93 ₴42.30
69.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$50.2
$2.10 ₴95.8
27.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Lutsk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.40
$0.37 ₴16.93
48.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$500
$19.95 ₴908
33.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$93.4
$2.13 ₴96.9
133.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$62.6
$0.42 ₴19.06
692.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$101
$2.66 ₴121
101.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$27.14
$1.58 ₴72.1
-8.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$388.4K
$29.1K ₴1.3M
-29.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$441.0K
$32.8K ₴1.5M
-28.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Lutsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,594
$83.7 ₴3,811
1.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$440
$4.99 ₴227
369.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$539
$6.39 ₴291
348.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Lutsk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,072
$32.04 ₴1,459
78.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$543
$8.68 ₴395
233.06%
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$96.6
$3.43 ₴156
49.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Lutsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,882
$323 ₴14.7K
-36.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$73.8K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Lutsk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$815
$49.18 ₴2,239
-11.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$779
$47.49 ₴2,162
-12.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,394
$92.0 ₴4,188
-19.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,677
$101 ₴4,585
-11.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Lutsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.4K
$334 ₴15.2K
193.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,157
$226 ₴10.3K
68.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$32.1K
$442 ₴20.1K
286.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.2K
$314 ₴14.3K
242.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$74.1K
$1,014 ₴46.2K
288.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$115.7K
$767 ₴34.9K
703.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Lutsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.8K
$412 ₴18.8K
78.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
18.5
-38.11%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Last update for Lutsk: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Lutsk
$226 40.7% $155
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Lutsk
$173 31.9% $81
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Lutsk
$76 62.6% $127
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Lutsk
$95 30.5% $42
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Lutsk
$130 16.6% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Lutsk
$39 42.2% $28
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Lutsk
$26 49.1% $25

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $980 in Playa del Carmen and $334 in Lutsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 78% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $43 in Playa del Carmen vs $20 in Lutsk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $255 vs $173 per month, with Lutsk cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇺🇦 Lutsk
🕒 Local time
07:28 7:28 AM
14:28 2:28 PM
7 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
217,502
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

UAH, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18.79 MXN (100 MXN = 5.32 USD). 1 EUR = 20.97 MXN (100 MXN = 4.77 EUR).

Ukrainian Hryvnia exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 45.53 UAH (100 UAH = 2.2 USD). 1 EUR = 50.81 UAH (100 UAH = 1.97 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Lutsk 9,710 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Lutsk

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,204 in Playa del Carmen and $765 in Lutsk, so Lutsk is about 36% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Playa del Carmen or Lutsk?
Average pay runs 78% 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: $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $334 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 versus $43 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 $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $765 in Lutsk – Lutsk is about 36% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
At $765 in Lutsk versus $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,200 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.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Lutsk?
Expats usually find Lutsk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% 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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