😐A single person spends $1,293 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $736 in Sidi Slimane, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,133 in Sidi Slimane, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,374 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,531 in Sidi Slimane, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 76% more than Sidi Slimane, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Sidi Slimane are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen6% lower, Sidi Slimane46% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Sidi Slimane
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71MX$198
$4.15MAD 38.82
182.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.59MX$787
$20.93MAD 196
122.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65MX$197
$6.41MAD 60.0
81.75%
Cappuccino
$4.09MX$69.2
$2.05MAD 19.15
99.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37MX$23.23
$0.76MAD 7.07
80.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83MX$14.09
$0.36MAD 3.36
130.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.35MX$56.7
$4.14MAD 38.69
-19.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91MX$117
$3.25MAD 30.44
112.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Sidi Slimane
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73MX$29.19
$0.91MAD 8.50
90.11%
White Bread(500g)
$2.26MX$38.20
$0.55MAD 5.16
310.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$29.90
$1.60MAD 14.99
10.62%
Eggs
$2.73MX$46.18
$1.92MAD 17.98
42.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.18MX$155
$7.75MAD 72.5
18.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.92MX$151
$7.17MAD 67.1
24.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.60MX$213
$11.24MAD 105
12.10%
Apples(1kg)
$3.02MX$51.1
$1.58MAD 14.76
91.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57MX$26.54
$1.47MAD 13.79
6.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13MX$35.92
$0.90MAD 8.45
136.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.27
$0.81MAD 7.62
179.01%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00MX$33.87
$0.75MAD 6.98
166.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06MX$34.89
$0.76MAD 7.13
171.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18MX$19.94
$0.43MAD 4.07
174.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.35
$0.65MAD 6.10
84.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.63MX$78.3
$4.06MAD 38.02
14.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.69MX$181
$6.89MAD 64.5
55.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.37
$2.70MAD 25.25
-40.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$48.69
$2.66MAD 24.85
8.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Sidi Slimane
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.57MX$9.69
$0.48MAD 4.48
18.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.83MX$504
$17.22MAD 161
73.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$92.1
$0.75MAD 7.06
626.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.70MX$62.6
$0.80MAD 7.45
362.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.98MX$101
$5.77MAD 54.0
3.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.25
$1.50MAD 14.00
3.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3KMX$377.3K
$35.4KMAD 330.8K
-36.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KMX$438.5K
$32.9KMAD 307.6K
-21.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Sidi Slimane
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.1MX$1,506
$31.98MAD 299
178.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04MX$423
$11.88MAD 111
110.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.50MX$532
$43.00MAD 402
-26.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Sidi Slimane
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.8MX$1,145
$25.14MAD 235
169.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.92MX$489
$19.49MAD 182
48.38%
Cinema Ticket
$5.05MX$85.3
$5.11MAD 47.85
-1.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Sidi Slimane
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$225MX$3,802
$111MAD 1,039
102.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,222MX$71.4K
$6,442MAD 60.3K
-34.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Sidi Slimane
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44MX$802
$34.65MAD 324
36.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98MX$760
$45.69MAD 427
-1.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.0MX$1,386
$72.3MAD 677
13.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1MX$1,556
$74.2MAD 694
24.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Sidi Slimane
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,069MX$18.1K
$281MAD 2,625
281.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$405MX$6,850
$175MAD 1,640
131.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,935MX$32.7K
$488MAD 4,567
296.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,301MX$22.0K
$276MAD 2,579
371.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,995MX$67.5K
$1,265MAD 11.8K
215.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,626MX$112.0K
$868MAD 8,118
663.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Sidi Slimane
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$749MX$12.7K
$270MAD 2,530
176.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
4.52
153.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Last update for Sidi Slimane: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $281 in Sidi Slimane. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 177% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $21.00 in Sidi Slimane. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $192 – making Sidi Slimane the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Sidi Slimane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sidi Slimane cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 76%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,940 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,104 in Sidi Slimane. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sidi Slimane, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Sidi Slimane?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,293 in Playa del Carmen and $736 in Sidi Slimane. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 73% less in Sidi Slimane. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Sidi Slimane?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sidi Slimane, where all-in costs run around $736, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Sidi Slimane it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Sidi Slimane more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sidi Slimane – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Sidi Slimane?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Sidi Slimane. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared