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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,293 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $791 in Sousse, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,259 in Sousse, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,374 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,728 in Sousse, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 64% more than Sousse, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Sousse are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Sousse 42% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Sousse
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71 MX$198
$4.69 TND 13.56
149.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.59 MX$788
$24.29 TND 70.3
91.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.65 MX$197
$6.19 TND 17.90
88.21%
Cappuccino
$4.09 MX$69.2
$1.06 TND 3.07
285.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 MX$23.23
$0.77 TND 2.23
77.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$14.09
$0.36 TND 1.05
130.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.35 MX$56.7
$1.74 TND 5.03
92.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91 MX$117
$1.70 TND 4.90
306.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Sousse
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 MX$29.20
$0.48 TND 1.40
260.42%
White Bread (500g)
$2.26 MX$38.21
$0.15 TND 0.43
1406.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 MX$29.91
$1.30 TND 3.76
36.15%
Eggs
$2.73 MX$46.19
$1.64 TND 4.75
66.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.18 MX$155
$14.02 TND 40.54
-34.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.92 MX$151
$5.80 TND 16.77
53.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.60 MX$213
$14.39 TND 41.61
-12.44%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 MX$51.1
$1.92 TND 5.55
57.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 MX$26.55
$3.84 TND 11.09
-59.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 MX$35.93
$1.08 TND 3.13
97.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.28
$0.78 TND 2.24
189.74%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 MX$33.88
$0.89 TND 2.57
124.72%
Onion (1kg)
$2.06 MX$34.90
$0.75 TND 2.17
174.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 MX$19.94
$0.43 TND 1.25
174.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.35
$0.33 TND 0.96
263.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.63 MX$78.4
$3.73 TND 10.78
24.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.69 MX$181
$5.17 TND 14.96
106.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.38
$0.99 TND 2.88
63.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$48.70
$1.19 TND 3.44
142.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Sousse
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 MX$9.69
$0.35 TND 1.02
62.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.83 MX$504
$10.17 TND 29.42
193.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 MX$92.1
$0.31 TND 0.91
1658.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.70 MX$62.6
$0.66 TND 1.91
460.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.98 MX$101
$4.03 TND 11.64
48.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 MX$26.26
$0.85 TND 2.45
82.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3K MX$377.4K
$40.2K TND 116.4K
-44.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K MX$438.7K
$37.7K TND 109.0K
-31.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Sousse
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.1 MX$1,507
$77.2 TND 223
15.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04 MX$423
$12.94 TND 37.43
93.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.50 MX$532
$17.80 TND 51.5
76.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Sousse
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.8 MX$1,146
$29.44 TND 85.1
130.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.92 MX$489
$27.74 TND 80.2
4.25%
Cinema Ticket
$5.05 MX$85.4
$6.65 TND 19.22
-24.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Sousse
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$225 MX$3,803
$98.3 TND 284
128.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,222 MX$71.4K
$3,033 TND 8,773
39.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Sousse
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44 MX$802
$46.89 TND 136
1.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98 MX$760
$66.3 TND 192
-32.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.0 MX$1,386
$154 TND 446
-46.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1 MX$1,557
$107 TND 310
-14.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Sousse
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,069 MX$18.1K
$247 TND 713
333.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$405 MX$6,852
$167 TND 484
142.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,935 MX$32.7K
$535 TND 1,546
262.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,301 MX$22.0K
$349 TND 1,010
272.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,995 MX$67.5K
$997 TND 2,883
300.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,626 MX$112.0K
$641 TND 1,853
934.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Sousse
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$749 MX$12.7K
$398 TND 1,151
88.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
12
-4.58%

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 Sousse: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $247 in Sousse. 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 88% 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 $24.00 in Sousse. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $201 – making Sousse 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 Sousse: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sousse cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 64%, 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 $1,186 in Sousse. 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 Sousse, 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 Sousse?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,293 in Playa del Carmen and $791 in Sousse. 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 193% less in Sousse. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Sousse?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sousse, where all-in costs run around $791, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Sousse it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Sousse more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sousse – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Sousse. 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.

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