πA single person spends $318 per month in Zliten vs $1,294 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
πA couple spends around $516 per month in Zliten vs $2,189 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
πA family of three spends $713 per month in Zliten vs $3,084 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
πZliten is about 75% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth Zliten and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median β Zliten76% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Zliten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.02LYDΒ 19.18
$11.73MX$202
-74.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.49LYDΒ 92.2
$41.78MX$719
-65.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.49LYDΒ 15.86
$10.41MX$179
-76.08%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.57LYDΒ 3.66
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72LYDΒ 4.60
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.44LYDΒ 2.83
$3.61MX$62.1
-87.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42LYDΒ 2.66
$1.46MX$25.06
-71.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.12LYDΒ 0.75
$0.97MX$16.70
-87.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.92MX$50.3
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.62MX$79.5
-
π Groceries & Markets
Zliten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.85LYDΒ 5.42
$1.43MX$24.59
-40.56%
White Bread(500g)
$0.21LYDΒ 1.33
$1.90MX$32.70
-88.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.86LYDΒ 5.45
$1.57MX$26.95
-45.22%
Eggs
$1.26LYDΒ 8.00
$2.64MX$45.34
-52.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.43LYDΒ 28.15
$8.44MX$145
-47.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.84LYDΒ 18.05
$8.58MX$148
-66.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.22LYDΒ 65.0
$11.00MX$189
-7.09%
Apples(1kg)
$1.12LYDΒ 7.14
$2.70MX$46.51
-58.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21LYDΒ 7.71
$1.51MX$25.92
-19.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.62LYDΒ 3.93
$1.91MX$32.93
-67.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.56LYDΒ 3.55
$2.17MX$37.37
-74.19%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70LYDΒ 4.46
$1.87MX$32.25
-62.57%
Onion(1kg)
$0.51LYDΒ 3.24
$2.23MX$38.43
-77.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.33LYDΒ 2.11
$1.08MX$18.60
-69.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.22LYDΒ 1.40
$1.07MX$18.47
-79.44%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.27LYDΒ 8.10
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.71LYDΒ 4.51
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44LYDΒ 2.80
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.81LYDΒ 11.50
$4.16MX$71.6
-56.49%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.29MX$177
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.68MX$28.95
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.53MX$43.59
-
π Getting Around
Zliten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20LYDΒ 1.25
$0.55MX$9.53
-63.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.38LYDΒ 53.3
$26.29MX$452
-68.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.97LYDΒ 6.14
$3.20MX$55.0
-69.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.83LYDΒ 5.30
$2.46MX$42.37
-66.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.75LYDΒ 23.87
$3.20MX$55.0
17.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.03LYDΒ 0.16
$1.32MX$22.72
-97.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.6KLYDΒ 86.5K
$30.2KMX$518.8K
-54.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.5KLYDΒ 98.6K
$23.4KMX$402.5K
-33.70%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zliten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$18.69LYDΒ 119
$81.4MX$1,400
-77.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.40LYDΒ 34.33
$22.41MX$386
-75.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.40LYDΒ 149
$29.97MX$516
-21.92%
π Sport & Entertainment
Zliten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$16.38LYDΒ 104
$51.6MX$887
-68.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39MX$316
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.53LYDΒ 28.82
$5.16MX$88.9
-12.21%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Zliten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$36.92LYDΒ 235
$202MX$3,471
-81.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$653LYDΒ 4,155
$5,311MX$91.4K
-87.70%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Zliten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$10.99LYDΒ 69.9
$35.61MX$613
-69.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$11.95LYDΒ 76.0
$40.37MX$695
-70.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$41.01LYDΒ 261
$78.6MX$1,353
-47.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$22.50LYDΒ 143
$86.9MX$1,495
-74.10%
π Accommodation & Living
Zliten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$73.5LYDΒ 467
$950MX$16.3K
-92.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$50.2LYDΒ 319
$478MX$8,227
-89.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$195LYDΒ 1,238
$1,621MX$27.9K
-87.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$90.5LYDΒ 576
$1,223MX$21.0K
-92.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,009MX$69.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,473MX$111.4K
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Zliten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$673MX$11.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.5
11.42
9.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zliten: June 15, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $73.5 in Zliten versus $950 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.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Zliten versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $102 vs $254 β 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 β Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 307%, 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 $477 per month in Zliten and $1,941 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β 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 Zliten vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $318 in Zliten and $1,294 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 214% less in Zliten. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Zliten or Playa del Carmen?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Zliten, where all-in costs run around $318, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,294. 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 β 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.