Cost of Living Comparison Between Paramaribo and Lelydorp Cost of Living Comparison Between Paramaribo and Lelydorp

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $999 in Paramaribo versus $200 in Lelydorp.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,716 in Paramaribo versus $409 in Lelydorp.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,433 in Paramaribo versus $619 in Lelydorp.

Living in Paramaribo is roughly 400% more expensive than in Lelydorp, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Paramaribo 25% lower, Lelydorp 85% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.27 SRD 310

$4.93 SRD 185

67.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.85 SRD 1,606

$35.06 SRD 1,315

22.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.58 SRD 397

$5.98 SRD 224

76.92%

Cappuccino

$2.70 SRD 101

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

$1.24 SRD 46.36

$1.22 SRD 45.91

1.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 SRD 31.04

$0.47 SRD 17.43

76.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.07 SRD 115

$2.06 SRD 77.1

49.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.01 SRD 150

$2.96 SRD 111

35.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 SRD 64.6

$1.17 SRD 43.90

47.01%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 SRD 47.88

$0.98 SRD 36.57

30.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 SRD 62.6

$1.23 SRD 46.03

35.77%

Eggs

$3.50 SRD 131

$2.86 SRD 107

22.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.35 SRD 463

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.55 SRD 208

$3.94 SRD 148

40.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.84 SRD 369

$7.85 SRD 294

25.35%

Apples (1kg)

$4.44 SRD 167

Banana (1kg)

$2.04 SRD 76.6

$1.49 SRD 55.7

36.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.13 SRD 117

Tomato (1kg)

$5.39 SRD 202

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 SRD 48.16

$0.98 SRD 36.83

30.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.08 SRD 78.1

$0.97 SRD 36.53

114.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.84 SRD 69.0

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 SRD 55.6

$0.83 SRD 31.01

78.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.58 SRD 209

Wine (Bottle)

$7.92 SRD 297

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 SRD 85.3

$1.95 SRD 73.2

16.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 SRD 124

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 SRD 17.19

$0.48 SRD 17.93

-4.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.4 SRD 3,352

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.98 SRD 112

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.54 SRD 95.3

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.07 SRD 377

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 SRD 41.23

$0.91 SRD 34.15

20.88%

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

$24.6K SRD 920.9K

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

$25.3K SRD 947.6K

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

$39.43 SRD 1,478

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

$26.19 SRD 982

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.06 SRD 1,089

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.67 SRD 475

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.82 SRD 743

Cinema Ticket

$4.58 SRD 172

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

$61.8 SRD 2,317

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,950 SRD 73.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.10 SRD 1,353

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.89 SRD 1,083

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.3 SRD 2,822

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 SRD 4,133

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$503 SRD 18.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$217 SRD 8,128

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,091 SRD 40.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$568 SRD 21.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$465 SRD 17.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$407 SRD 15.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$276 SRD 10.3K

$295 SRD 11.1K

-6.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-5.88%

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

Last update for Paramaribo: July 13, 2026

Last update for Lelydorp: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lelydorp pays 7% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $43.00 in Paramaribo vs $35.00 in Lelydorp for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $115 per month, with Lelydorp 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

Paramaribo vs Lelydorp: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lelydorp wins on cost – living expenses run 400% lower than in Paramaribo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lelydorp the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 7% lower in Lelydorp. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

All in, you'll spend $999 per month in Paramaribo versus $200 in Lelydorp – a 400% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 150% higher in Paramaribo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $200 in Lelydorp versus $999 in Paramaribo, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Lelydorp but tight or insufficient in Paramaribo. The gap between the two cities makes Lelydorp the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Paramaribo and Lelydorp are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Lelydorp gentler on the wallet – expenses run 400% less than in Paramaribo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.