Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Juba and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Juba: $233 a month against $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $11,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Juba, South Sudan
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Juba
🇸🇸 South Sudan
$233
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Juba and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Juba and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $233 per month in Juba vs $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Juba $233
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

A couple spends around $362 per month in Juba vs $2,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Juba $362
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

A family of three spends $492 per month in Juba vs $2,959 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Juba $492
  • Playa del Carmen $2,959

Juba is about 81% cheaper than Playa del Carmen.

Both Juba and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Juba 83% lower, Playa del Carmen 12% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Juba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.73 SSP 113.5K
$10.92 MX$204
80.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$43.37 MX$808
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.24 SSP 53.1K
$11.78 MX$220
-21.56%
Cappuccino
$3.42 SSP 19.7K
$3.81 MX$71.0
-10.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 SSP 8,547
$1.28 MX$23.90
16.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.78 MX$14.59
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.17 MX$59.0
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.93 MX$92.0
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Juba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$1.41 MX$26.22
-
White Bread (500g)
-
$2.22 MX$41.33
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$1.42 MX$26.42
-
Eggs
-
$2.52 MX$47.03
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$7.26 MX$135
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$7.70 MX$143
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$12.69 MX$237
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$2.78 MX$51.9
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.37 MX$25.50
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$2.55 MX$47.55
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$2.12 MX$39.58
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.94 MX$36.13
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$1.89 MX$35.16
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.15 MX$21.37
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.18 MX$21.98
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.30 MX$80.1
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$9.95 MX$185
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.58 MX$29.52
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.67 MX$49.79
-
🚌 Getting Around
Juba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.55 MX$10.31
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.62 MX$496
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$4.97 MX$92.6
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$3.33 MX$62.1
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$5.36 MX$99.8
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.44 MX$26.92
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$20.7K MX$385.2K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.5K MX$437.4K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Juba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$84.8 MX$1,581
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$23.41 MX$436
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$28.66 MX$534
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Juba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$57.1 MX$1,063
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.91 MX$539
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.14 MX$95.8
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Juba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$207 MX$3,851
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$3,927 MX$73.2K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Juba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$43.35 MX$808
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$41.44 MX$772
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$74.2 MX$1,383
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$89.3 MX$1,664
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Juba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$980 MX$18.3K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$381 MX$7,099
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,708 MX$31.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,075 MX$20.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,943 MX$73.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,158 MX$114.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Juba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,743 SSP 10.0M
$735 MX$13.7K
137.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12
11.45
4.80%

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

Last update for Juba: October 24, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Juba
–
Playa del Carmen
$381
Groceries & Markets
Juba
–
Playa del Carmen
$255
Eating Out
Juba
–
Playa del Carmen
$202
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Juba
–
Playa del Carmen
$137
Clothing & Footwear
Juba
–
Playa del Carmen
$112
Sport & Entertainment
Juba
–
Playa del Carmen
$67
Getting Around
Juba
–
Playa del Carmen
$50

Cost Breakdown

Salaries in Juba are about 2.4 times higher, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

Good to know
🇸🇸 Juba
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
22:36 10:36 PM
15:36 3:36 PM
7 h behind Juba
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
372,410 Capital
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to SSP – South Sudanese Pound Converter

South Sudanese Pound exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 5,751 SSP (10,000 SSP = 1.74 USD). 1 EUR = 6,402 SSP (10,000 SSP = 1.56 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Juba Playa del Carmen 12,750 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Juba
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Juba vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is cheaper: Juba or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen costs about 418% more than Juba, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $349 per month in Juba and $1,806 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Juba or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Juba, where all-in costs run around $233, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,204. In Juba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Juba or in Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $233 in Juba to $1,204 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Juba vs other spots: cost of living compared

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