😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $889 in Khartoum.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,383 in Khartoum.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,876 in Khartoum.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 41% more expensive than in Khartoum, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen6% lower, Khartoum33% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Khartoum
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$7.35SDG 4,400
63.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
$33.51SDG 20.1K
24.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$7.96SDG 4,763
35.05%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.95SDG 1,168
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.34SDG 2,000
-
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$2.32SDG 1,386
50.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$0.59SDG 354
145.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
$0.40SDG 240
120.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Khartoum
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.59SDG 950
-10.06%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$1.38SDG 825
33.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
$3.34SDG 2,000
-52.99%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$2.92SDG 1,749
-14.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$14.62SDG 8,750
-43.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$6.34SDG 3,796
32.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$6.75SDG 4,038
58.22%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
$5.00SDG 2,991
-47.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
$1.27SDG 757
13.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
$2.59SDG 1,553
-24.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
$1.77SDG 1,058
18.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
$1.34SDG 804
38.06%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
$1.07SDG 638
102.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$0.62SDG 370
72.58%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$4.11SDG 2,460
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.96SDG 2,368
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$1.53SDG 917
167.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Khartoum
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
$0.69SDG 410
-26.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
$25.15SDG 15.1K
3.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$3.56SDG 2,128
-9.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
$0.99SDG 592
143.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
$9.82SDG 5,876
-67.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$1.36SDG 811
-2.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$16.4KSDG 9.8M
43.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Khartoum
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$52.1SDG 31.2K
57.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
$9.32SDG 5,581
146.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$70.1SDG 41.9K
-57.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Khartoum
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
$33.63SDG 20.1K
54.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$3.91SDG 2,339
27.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Khartoum
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
$88.9SDG 53.2K
122.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
$1,903SDG 1.1M
180.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Khartoum
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
$14.69SDG 8,791
142.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
$53.9SDG 32.3K
46.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
$53.2SDG 31.8K
67.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Khartoum
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
$636SDG 380.7K
48.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
$292SDG 174.7K
62.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
$1,237SDG 740.1K
32.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
$503SDG 300.9K
140.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
$1,014SDG 606.8K
300.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.7K
$867SDG 519.1K
645.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Khartoum
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
$189SDG 113.1K
246.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
26
-56.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Last update for Khartoum: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $947 in Playa del Carmen and $636 in Khartoum. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 246% 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: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $34.00 in Khartoum for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $216 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
Playa del Carmen vs Khartoum: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Khartoum cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Khartoum is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Khartoum?
Average pay runs 246% higher in Playa del Carmen, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Khartoum?
Rent for a central apartment: $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $636 in Khartoum. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Khartoum?
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 Playa del Carmen and in Khartoum?
All in, you'll spend $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $889 in Khartoum – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Khartoum?
At $889 in Khartoum versus $1,256 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 Playa del Carmen or Khartoum 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 41% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared