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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $901 in Khartoum versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,390 in Khartoum versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,880 in Khartoum versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Khartoum costs roughly 31% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Khartoum 33% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Khartoum
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.55 SDG 4,521
$11.73 MX$203
-35.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.55 SDG 20.1K
$41.62 MX$720
-19.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.86 SDG 4,706
$10.64 MX$184
-26.13%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.04 SDG 1,218
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41 SDG 2,042
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.37 SDG 1,418
$3.52 MX$60.9
-32.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 SDG 349
$1.51 MX$26.12
-61.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 SDG 240
$0.97 MX$16.84
-58.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.95 MX$51.0
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.45 MX$77.0
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Khartoum
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.59 SDG 955
$1.38 MX$23.93
15.22%
White Bread (500g)
$1.32 SDG 787
$1.89 MX$32.72
-30.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.39 SDG 2,027
$1.64 MX$28.32
106.71%
Eggs
$2.82 SDG 1,686
$2.51 MX$43.34
12.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.75 SDG 8,831
$8.34 MX$144
76.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.35 SDG 3,801
$8.34 MX$144
-23.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.00 SDG 4,188
$10.73 MX$186
-34.76%
Apples (1kg)
$4.89 SDG 2,926
$2.60 MX$45.04
88.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.24 SDG 741
$1.46 MX$25.20
-15.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.53 SDG 1,514
$1.90 MX$32.87
33.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.86 SDG 1,114
$2.08 MX$35.91
-10.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.35 SDG 806
$1.78 MX$30.71
-24.16%
Onion (1kg)
$1.02 SDG 611
$2.19 MX$37.80
-53.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.04 MX$17.99
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 SDG 389
$1.08 MX$18.62
-39.81%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$4.02 SDG 2,405
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.95 SDG 2,363
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.49 SDG 889
$4.08 MX$70.6
-63.48%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$10.32 MX$178
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.71 MX$29.61
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.58 MX$44.54
-
🚌 Getting Around
Khartoum
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 SDG 406
$0.51 MX$8.81
33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.82 SDG 14.9K
$26.46 MX$458
-6.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.40 SDG 2,032
$3.26 MX$56.4
4.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 SDG 611
$2.49 MX$43.09
-59.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.14 SDG 6,067
$3.25 MX$56.2
212.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 SDG 819
$1.31 MX$22.61
4.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$30.3K MX$523.7K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.5K SDG 9.9M
$23.4K MX$405.3K
-29.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Khartoum
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.6 SDG 31.5K
$82.9 MX$1,433
-36.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.35 SDG 5,594
$22.22 MX$384
-57.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.6 SDG 42.2K
$29.34 MX$507
140.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Khartoum
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.99 SDG 19.7K
$51.6 MX$893
-36.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32 MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.89 SDG 2,331
$5.07 MX$87.6
-23.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Khartoum
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$88.6 SDG 53.1K
$201 MX$3,473
-55.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,850 SDG 1.1M
$5,212 MX$90.1K
-64.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Khartoum
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.77 SDG 8,841
$36.92 MX$639
-59.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$39.79 MX$688
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$55.4 SDG 33.1K
$78.5 MX$1,357
-29.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.4 SDG 32.0K
$87.1 MX$1,506
-38.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Khartoum
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$628 SDG 375.9K
$973 MX$16.8K
-35.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$293 SDG 175.4K
$468 MX$8,090
-37.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,243 SDG 743.8K
$1,641 MX$28.4K
-24.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 SDG 300.0K
$1,221 MX$21.1K
-58.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,145 SDG 1.3M
$3,946 MX$68.3K
-45.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,249 SDG 747.5K
$6,498 MX$112.4K
-80.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Khartoum
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$196 SDG 117.1K
$664 MX$11.5K
-70.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
26
11.42
127.67%

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

Last update for Khartoum: June 2, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $628 in Khartoum and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 239% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $34.00 in Khartoum vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $216 vs $249 per month, with Khartoum cheaper across the board.

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
Khartoum vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Khartoum?
Khartoum is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 44% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Khartoum or Playa del Carmen?
On paper, Playa del Carmen earns 239% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Khartoum and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $628 in Khartoum versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Khartoum or Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Khartoum – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Khartoum vs Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $901 per month in Khartoum versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Khartoum or Playa del Carmen?
At $901 in Khartoum versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Khartoum but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Khartoum the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Khartoum or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Khartoum is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Khartoum gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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