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: $1,071 in Paramaribo versus $201 in Lelydorp.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,782 in Paramaribo versus $412 in Lelydorp.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,493 in Paramaribo versus $624 in Lelydorp.

Living in Paramaribo is roughly 434% more expensive than in Lelydorp, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Paramaribo 22% lower, Lelydorp 85% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.05 SRD 490

$5.10 SRD 191

155.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 SRD 1,976

$34.96 SRD 1,313

50.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.18 SRD 420

$6.17 SRD 232

81.20%

Cappuccino

$2.89 SRD 109

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

$1.42 SRD 53.4

$1.23 SRD 46.25

15.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 SRD 32.32

$0.44 SRD 16.45

95.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.63 SRD 98.7

$1.97 SRD 73.8

33.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.86 SRD 145

$3.07 SRD 115

25.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 SRD 69.2

$1.24 SRD 46.39

48.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.34 SRD 50.2

$1.03 SRD 38.57

30.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 SRD 59.8

$1.18 SRD 44.21

34.75%

Eggs

$2.96 SRD 111

$2.84 SRD 107

4.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.96 SRD 411

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.30 SRD 236

$3.94 SRD 148

59.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.42 SRD 391

$7.93 SRD 298

31.40%

Apples (1kg)

$4.83 SRD 181

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 SRD 91.0

$1.52 SRD 57.1

59.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.64 SRD 137

Tomato (1kg)

$6.15 SRD 231

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 SRD 52.7

$1.03 SRD 38.56

35.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.93 SRD 72.5

$0.97 SRD 36.60

98.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.49 SRD 55.8

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 SRD 56.8

$0.84 SRD 31.48

79.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.83 SRD 219

Wine (Bottle)

$8.07 SRD 303

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 SRD 77.6

$2.04 SRD 76.5

1.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 SRD 144

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 SRD 29.38

$0.52 SRD 19.35

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.6 SRD 3,326

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 SRD 114

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.98 SRD 74.4

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.05 SRD 377

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 SRD 42.33

$0.89 SRD 33.42

26.97%

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

$25.3K SRD 948.2K

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

$25.0K SRD 938.3K

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

$38.04 SRD 1,428

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

$25.85 SRD 971

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.37 SRD 1,141

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.40 SRD 466

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.01 SRD 714

Cinema Ticket

$4.53 SRD 170

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

$63.7 SRD 2,392

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,777 SRD 66.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.89 SRD 1,423

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.05 SRD 1,016

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.0 SRD 2,740

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 SRD 3,895

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 SRD 18.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 SRD 9,788

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 SRD 43.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$500 SRD 18.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$476 SRD 17.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$398 SRD 14.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$285 SRD 10.7K

$303 SRD 11.4K

-5.89%

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: August 29, 2026

Last update for Lelydorp: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lelydorp pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $53.0 in Paramaribo vs $35.00 in Lelydorp for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $296 vs $117 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 434% 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 6% 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 $1,071 per month in Paramaribo versus $201 in Lelydorp – a 434% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 154% higher in Paramaribo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $201 in Lelydorp versus $1,071 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 434% less than in Paramaribo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.