🙂A single person spends $350 per month in Zliten vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $539 per month in Zliten vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $728 per month in Zliten vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Zliten is about 72% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Zliten and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Zliten74% lower, Playa del Carmen7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zliten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.90LYD 24.72
$11.60MX$200
-66.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.85LYD 81.5
$47.11MX$812
-72.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.54LYD 16.09
$11.88MX$205
-78.62%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.45LYD 2.88
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61LYD 3.86
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.40LYD 2.55
$3.98MX$68.6
-89.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41LYD 2.57
$1.43MX$24.60
-71.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.11LYD 0.68
$0.82MX$14.22
-86.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.19MX$55.0
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$6.79MX$117
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zliten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.83LYD 5.25
$1.68MX$28.89
-50.60%
White Bread(500g)
$0.20LYD 1.27
$2.20MX$37.88
-90.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.81LYD 5.14
$1.71MX$29.45
-52.63%
Eggs
$1.16LYD 7.33
$2.74MX$47.26
-57.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.07LYD 32.11
$9.58MX$165
-47.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.90LYD 18.40
$9.01MX$155
-67.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.34LYD 59.2
$12.81MX$221
-27.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29LYD 14.51
$2.89MX$49.81
-20.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51LYD 9.56
$1.50MX$25.81
0.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.72LYD 4.58
$2.15MX$37.03
-66.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.57LYD 3.58
$2.26MX$38.96
-74.78%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71LYD 4.52
$1.98MX$34.15
-64.14%
Onion(1kg)
$0.46LYD 2.89
$1.99MX$34.30
-76.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.43LYD 2.72
$1.23MX$21.28
-65.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.20LYD 1.24
$1.20MX$20.63
-83.33%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.78LYD 11.30
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07LYD 6.76
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80LYD 5.06
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.00LYD 12.67
$4.55MX$78.5
-56.04%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.37MX$179
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.62MX$27.91
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.88MX$49.67
-
🚌 Getting Around
Zliten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.60MX$10.35
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.80MX$497
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.78LYD 4.93
$5.39MX$92.9
-85.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49LYD 3.12
$3.73MX$64.3
-86.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.77MX$99.5
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.02LYD 0.13
$1.54MX$26.48
-98.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7KLYD 150.3K
$22.5KMX$388.8K
5.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.2KLYD 90.3K
$26.1KMX$449.3K
-45.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zliten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$95.1LYD 603
$91.4MX$1,576
4.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.94LYD 37.64
$25.20MX$435
-76.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.82LYD 176
$31.24MX$539
-10.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zliten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$67.2MX$1,159
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11MX$502
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.86MX$83.8
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zliten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$53.5LYD 339
$224MX$3,856
-76.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$625LYD 3,959
$4,229MX$72.9K
-85.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zliten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.76LYD 132
$47.10MX$812
-55.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.71LYD 112
$44.29MX$764
-60.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$56.3LYD 357
$80.1MX$1,381
-29.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.8LYD 430
$92.7MX$1,598
-26.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zliten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,063MX$18.3K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$390MX$6,728
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,149MX$37.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,272MX$21.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,001MX$69.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,502MX$112.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zliten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$758MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
11.45
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zliten: September 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Zliten versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $109 vs $276 – 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
Zliten vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Zliten?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 262%, 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 $525 per month in Zliten and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Zliten and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $350 in Zliten and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $53.5 per month in Zliten and $224 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Zliten or in Playa del Carmen?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Zliten, where all-in costs run around $350, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Zliten it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Zliten or Playa del Carmen 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.