😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $873 in Tripoli, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,352 in Tripoli, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,831 in Tripoli, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 47% more than Tripoli, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Tripoli are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, Tripoli35% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Tripoli
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$4.52LBP 405.0K
164.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$37.41LBP 3.3M
14.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$7.81LBP 699.0K
35.60%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$2.45LBP 219.7K
47.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$1.54LBP 137.4K
-4.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.88LBP 78.4K
6.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$3.49LBP 312.2K
-11.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$5.07LBP 453.9K
-12.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Tripoli
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.29LBP 115.2K
10.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$0.32LBP 28.6K
487.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$0.99LBP 88.6K
64.65%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$1.58LBP 141.5K
67.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$5.56LBP 497.8K
47.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$5.82LBP 521.2K
42.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$9.94LBP 889.7K
11.67%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$1.02LBP 91.0K
159.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$0.53LBP 47.0K
183.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$0.45LBP 40.2K
342.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$0.98LBP 87.3K
112.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$0.55LBP 49.6K
225.45%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$0.75LBP 66.7K
190.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$0.29LBP 25.8K
272.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.42LBP 37.5K
147.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$2.46LBP 220.0K
61.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$7.04LBP 630.0K
44.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.22LBP 109.5K
41.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$2.12LBP 190.0K
17.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Tripoli
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$0.98LBP 87.6K
-46.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$4.87LBP 435.9K
-35.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$1.22LBP 109.1K
96.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$20.06LBP 1.8M
-84.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$0.88LBP 78.6K
44.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$22.8KLBP 2.0B
35.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$20.3KLBP 1.8B
14.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Tripoli
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$213LBP 19.1M
-61.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$21.87LBP 2.0M
2.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$37.71LBP 3.4M
-21.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Tripoli
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$19.35LBP 1.7M
168.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$12.30LBP 1.1M
51.79%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$6.37LBP 570.2K
-21.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Tripoli
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$135LBP 12.1M
46.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$1,965LBP 175.9M
168.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Tripoli
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$34.59LBP 3.1M
5.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$45.34LBP 4.1M
-11.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$84.7LBP 7.6M
-5.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$75.7LBP 6.8M
17.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Tripoli
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$252LBP 22.6M
281.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$149LBP 13.4M
211.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$776LBP 69.5M
105.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$384LBP 34.3M
215.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$1,111LBP 99.4M
254.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$836LBP 74.8M
671.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Tripoli
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$412LBP 36.9M
74.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
10
14.20%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para Tripoli: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $252 in Tripoli. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 75% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $37.00 in Tripoli. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $151 – making Tripoli the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Playa del Carmen vs Tripoli: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Tripoli cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 47%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,310 in Tripoli. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tripoli, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Tripoli?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $873 in Tripoli. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $135 in Tripoli. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Tripoli?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tripoli, where all-in costs run around $873, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Tripoli it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Tripoli more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tripoli – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Tripoli. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado