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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $847 per month in Tripoli vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,334 per month in Tripoli vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,821 per month in Tripoli vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Tripoli is about 33% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tripoli and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Tripoli 36% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.62 LBP 413.4K

$11.72 MX$204

-60.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.54 LBP 3.4M

$41.89 MX$731

-10.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.17 LBP 730.8K

$10.51 MX$183

-22.26%

Cappuccino

$2.52 LBP 225.9K

$3.59 MX$62.5

-29.81%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 LBP 135.8K

$1.51 MX$26.31

0.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 LBP 77.1K

$0.92 MX$15.96

-6.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.52 LBP 314.7K

$2.96 MX$51.6

18.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.89 LBP 437.2K

$4.41 MX$76.9

10.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 LBP 113.6K

$1.40 MX$24.35

-9.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.31 LBP 28.1K

$1.88 MX$32.87

-83.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 LBP 81.4K

$1.56 MX$27.19

-41.67%

Eggs

$1.63 LBP 145.8K

$2.61 MX$45.50

-37.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.76 LBP 515.8K

$8.32 MX$145

-30.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.98 LBP 535.5K

$8.35 MX$146

-28.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.92 LBP 887.9K

$10.86 MX$189

-8.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 LBP 90.6K

$2.71 MX$47.31

-62.73%

Banana (1kg)

$0.53 LBP 47.2K

$1.51 MX$26.25

-64.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.49 LBP 43.5K

$1.87 MX$32.67

-73.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.90 LBP 80.2K

$2.19 MX$38.19

-58.90%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 LBP 49.5K

$1.86 MX$32.40

-70.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.80 LBP 71.7K

$2.23 MX$38.90

-64.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 LBP 28.0K

$1.07 MX$18.63

-71.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 LBP 36.7K

$1.09 MX$18.94

-62.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.49 LBP 222.7K

$4.19 MX$73.0

-40.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.13 LBP 907.0K

$10.43 MX$182

-2.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 LBP 110.8K

$1.66 MX$28.91

-25.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 LBP 191.4K

$2.61 MX$45.56

-18.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 LBP 87.6K

$0.54 MX$9.45

81.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$456

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.97 LBP 445.1K

$3.08 MX$53.7

61.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 LBP 109.1K

$2.40 MX$41.94

-49.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.68 LBP 1.8M

$3.13 MX$54.5

528.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 LBP 86.1K

$1.31 MX$22.87

-26.72%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.7K LBP 2.0B

$29.8K MX$519.9K

-24.01%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.4K LBP 1.8B

$23.3K MX$406.8K

-12.53%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$213 LBP 19.1M

$81.3 MX$1,418

162.41%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$21.92 LBP 2.0M

$22.56 MX$393

-2.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.61 LBP 3.4M

$30.05 MX$524

25.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.80 LBP 1.8M

$52.9 MX$923

-62.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.43 LBP 1.1M

$18.39 MX$321

-32.41%

Cinema Ticket

$6.39 LBP 571.8K

$4.92 MX$85.8

29.88%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$136 LBP 12.1M

$201 MX$3,502

-32.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,035 LBP 182.1M

$5,175 MX$90.2K

-60.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.47 LBP 3.1M

$35.92 MX$627

-4.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.11 LBP 4.0M

$40.13 MX$700

12.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.0 LBP 7.5M

$79.7 MX$1,390

5.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.3 LBP 6.7M

$86.5 MX$1,508

-12.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$246 LBP 22.0M

$978 MX$17.1K

-74.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 LBP 13.5M

$470 MX$8,206

-68.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 LBP 67.3M

$1,651 MX$28.8K

-54.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 LBP 33.8M

$1,203 MX$21.0K

-68.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,168 LBP 104.5M

$3,953 MX$69.0K

-70.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$875 LBP 78.3M

$6,607 MX$115.2K

-86.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$447 LBP 40.0M

$677 MX$11.8K

-33.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

-12.43%

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

Last update for Tripoli: July 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $246 in Tripoli versus $978 in Playa del Carmen. 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 51% 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 $38.00 in Tripoli versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $158 vs $252 – making Tripoli 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

Tripoli vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 49%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,271 per month in Tripoli and $1,890 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $847 in Tripoli and $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $136 per month in Tripoli and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tripoli, where all-in costs run around $847, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Tripoli it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.