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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $317 in Zliten, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $518 in Zliten, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $719 in Zliten, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 306% more than Zliten, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Zliten are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Zliten 76% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Zliten
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94 MX$209
$2.87 LYD 18.17
316.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$748
$14.55 LYD 92.3
193.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 MX$185
$2.51 LYD 15.89
321.91%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.52 LYD 3.31
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.70 LYD 4.46
-
Cappuccino
$3.62 MX$63.4
$0.42 LYD 2.65
761.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.69
$0.41 LYD 2.59
258.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 MX$16.51
$0.10 LYD 0.63
840.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$54.1
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 MX$78.0
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Zliten
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$0.81 LYD 5.14
76.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.97
$0.21 LYD 1.33
795.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.50
$0.82 LYD 5.18
98.78%
Eggs
$2.64 MX$46.26
$1.29 LYD 8.17
104.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 MX$144
$4.45 LYD 28.20
84.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$2.86 LYD 18.11
189.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.10 MX$194
$10.14 LYD 64.3
9.47%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 MX$46.40
$1.08 LYD 6.83
145.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$26.26
$1.16 LYD 7.38
29.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.79
$0.65 LYD 4.14
206.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.33
$0.52 LYD 3.30
300.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.29
$0.64 LYD 4.08
179.69%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.09
$0.47 LYD 2.97
363.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.84
$0.33 LYD 2.12
227.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 MX$18.15
$0.22 LYD 1.40
372.73%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.24 LYD 7.86
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.67 LYD 4.27
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.45 LYD 2.84
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 MX$69.5
$1.78 LYD 11.26
123.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.20 MX$179
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.22
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 MX$43.71
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Zliten
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.07
$0.17 LYD 1.11
205.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.97 MX$472
$8.19 LYD 51.9
229.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$55.0
$0.95 LYD 6.01
230.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$42.04
$0.91 LYD 5.78
163.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 MX$54.0
$3.56 LYD 22.59
-13.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$22.28
$0.03 LYD 0.19
4133.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K MX$540.4K
$13.8K LYD 87.5K
123.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$408.0K
$15.3K LYD 97.0K
52.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Zliten
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,435
$18.67 LYD 118
339.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45 MX$393
$5.58 LYD 35.38
302.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66 MX$519
$23.18 LYD 147
27.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Zliten
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.9 MX$908
$16.76 LYD 106
209.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67 MX$327
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 MX$87.0
$4.70 LYD 29.80
5.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Zliten
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,462
$36.07 LYD 229
448.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,273 MX$92.3K
$634 LYD 4,017
732.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Zliten
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34 MX$636
$10.82 LYD 68.6
235.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05 MX$701
$11.85 LYD 75.2
237.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 MX$1,398
$42.08 LYD 267
89.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,555
$22.18 LYD 141
300.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Zliten
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.9K
$74.5 LYD 472
1193.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,133
$50.6 LYD 321
818.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,596 MX$27.9K
$193 LYD 1,224
726.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 MX$21.2K
$91.9 LYD 583
1215.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,942 MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,448 MX$112.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Zliten
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$720 MX$12.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
12.5
-8.64%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Last update for Zliten: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $74.5 in Zliten. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $15.00 in Zliten. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $101 – making Zliten the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Zliten: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zliten cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 306%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $475 in Zliten. 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 Zliten, 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 Zliten?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $317 in Zliten. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 229% less in Zliten. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Zliten?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Zliten, where all-in costs run around $317, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Zliten it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Zliten more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Zliten – 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 Zliten. 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.

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