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 $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $710 in Sousse, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,145 in Sousse, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,580 in Sousse, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 83% more than Sousse, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Sousse are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Sousse 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Sousse
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$3.84 TND 11.10
205.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$719
$23.99 TND 69.3
73.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$5.18 TND 14.97
105.41%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$60.8
$0.96 TND 2.78
266.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.09
$0.70 TND 2.04
115.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.82
$0.29 TND 0.83
234.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.0
$1.17 TND 3.38
152.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.0
$1.60 TND 4.62
178.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Sousse
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.90
$0.50 TND 1.45
176.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.69
$0.18 TND 0.52
950.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.29
$1.32 TND 3.83
24.24%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.30
$1.74 TND 5.03
44.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$11.93 TND 34.49
-30.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$5.57 TND 16.09
49.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$185
$13.79 TND 39.85
-22.19%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.00
$1.56 TND 4.52
66.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.18
$3.20 TND 9.24
-54.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.84
$0.92 TND 2.66
106.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.88
$0.63 TND 1.81
230.16%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.68
$0.65 TND 1.88
173.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.76
$0.64 TND 1.84
242.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$17.97
$0.44 TND 1.27
136.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.60
$0.32 TND 0.93
237.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.5
$3.52 TND 10.18
15.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$178
$5.16 TND 14.92
100.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.59
$1.19 TND 3.44
43.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.50
$1.08 TND 3.13
138.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Sousse
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.81
$0.30 TND 0.88
70.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$457
$10.08 TND 29.12
162.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.4
$0.32 TND 0.92
918.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.05
$0.48 TND 1.40
418.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.1
$5.95 TND 17.19
-45.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.59
$0.88 TND 2.54
48.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$523.2K
$47.1K TND 136.0K
-35.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$404.9K
$35.6K TND 102.7K
-34.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Sousse
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,432
$65.4 TND 189
26.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$384
$11.03 TND 31.89
101.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$507
$18.56 TND 53.6
58.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Sousse
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$892
$27.23 TND 78.7
89.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
$26.80 TND 77.4
-31.64%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.5
$6.61 TND 19.11
-23.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Sousse
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,470
$105 TND 304
90.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.1K
$3,235 TND 9,349
61.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Sousse
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$638
$41.75 TND 121
-11.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$688
$60.2 TND 174
-33.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,356
$150 TND 432
-47.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,505
$81.7 TND 236
6.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Sousse
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.8K
$244 TND 704
299.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,082
$167 TND 482
180.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$437 TND 1,263
275.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.1K
$324 TND 938
276.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.2K
$1,001 TND 2,893
294.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.3K
$648 TND 1,872
903.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Sousse
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
$393 TND 1,136
68.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
12
-4.83%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Sousse: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $244 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 69% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $24.00 in Sousse. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $185 – 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 83%, 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 $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,066 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 vs Sousse?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $710 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 163% less in Sousse. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Sousse?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sousse, where all-in costs run around $710, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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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