😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $910 in Lviv.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,366 in Lviv.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,823 in Lviv.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 42% more expensive than Lviv, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen3% lower, Lviv32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Lviv
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$7.36₴326
59.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$720
$28.54₴1,264
45.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$5.36₴237
98.51%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.9
$1.56₴68.9
125.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.12
$0.59₴26.29
155.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.84
$0.43₴18.96
125.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$1.36₴60.3
116.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$1.73₴76.5
157.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Lviv
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.93
$1.07₴47.35
28.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.72
$0.72₴31.99
162.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.32
$1.57₴69.6
4.46%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.34
$1.81₴80.2
38.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$8.30₴368
0.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$4.23₴187
97.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$7.41₴328
44.80%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.04
$0.92₴40.85
182.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.20
$1.45₴64.2
0.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.87
$1.59₴70.6
19.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.91
$2.18₴96.6
-4.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.71
$0.71₴31.57
150.70%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.80
$0.57₴25.29
284.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.99
$1.27₴56.4
-18.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.62
$0.53₴23.66
103.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.6
$2.52₴112
61.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$6.07₴269
70.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.61
$0.77₴34.06
122.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.54
$1.36₴60.2
89.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Lviv
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$0.57₴25.29
-10.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$458
$9.96₴441
165.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$2.86₴126
13.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.09
$0.23₴10.13
982.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.2
$4.25₴188
-23.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.61
$1.40₴62.0
-6.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.7K
$30.9K₴1.4M
-2.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$405.3K
$22.5K₴994.7K
4.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Lviv
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,433
$85.6₴3,793
-3.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$5.03₴223
341.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$6.20₴275
373.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Lviv
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$893
$26.97₴1,195
91.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
$9.86₴437
85.80%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.6
$4.76₴211
6.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Lviv
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,473
$294₴13.0K
-31.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$6,266₴277.6K
-16.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Lviv
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$639
$59.5₴2,636
-37.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$34.79₴1,541
14.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,357
$98.5₴4,364
-20.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,506
$89.1₴3,948
-2.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Lviv
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$476₴21.1K
104.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,090
$344₴15.2K
36.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$819₴36.3K
100.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$542₴24.0K
125.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.3K
$2,003₴88.7K
97.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.4K
$1,267₴56.2K
412.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Lviv
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
$623₴27.6K
6.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
13.43
-14.97%
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 Lviv: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $476 in Lviv. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 7% 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 $29.00 in Lviv for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $164 per month, with Lviv 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 Lviv: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and Lviv?
Playa del Carmen and Lviv differ by about 42% in total monthly costs ($1,297 vs $910 including rent). Lviv is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Playa del Carmen or Lviv?
Playa del Carmen pays 7% 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 Lviv?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $476 in Lviv. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Lviv?
Childcare runs $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $294 in Lviv. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 52% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $910 in Lviv versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lviv but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Lviv the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Lviv?
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 Lviv safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Lviv 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 Lviv?
Expats usually find Lviv gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% 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