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 $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $725 in Sousse, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,179 in Sousse, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,632 in Sousse, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 73% 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 46% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Sousse
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$209
$4.01 TND 11.74
199.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78 MX$728
$23.39 TND 68.4
78.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.75 MX$187
$5.17 TND 15.11
107.93%
Cappuccino
$3.50 MX$60.9
$0.89 TND 2.61
293.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.22
$0.67 TND 1.95
116.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 MX$15.41
$0.31 TND 0.91
183.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.3
$1.16 TND 3.38
154.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51 MX$78.6
$1.56 TND 4.57
189.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Sousse
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$0.49 TND 1.44
191.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 MX$31.99
$0.17 TND 0.49
982.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$27.31
$1.32 TND 3.86
18.94%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.74
$1.69 TND 4.94
48.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.28 MX$144
$12.23 TND 35.77
-32.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 MX$147
$5.60 TND 16.38
50.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.68 MX$186
$13.91 TND 40.71
-23.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 MX$45.43
$1.58 TND 4.62
65.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$25.04
$3.22 TND 9.41
-55.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 MX$34.16
$0.92 TND 2.69
113.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$36.47
$0.63 TND 1.84
231.75%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$32.24
$0.70 TND 2.04
164.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.74
$0.59 TND 1.72
267.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 MX$17.96
$0.40 TND 1.18
157.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.70
$0.32 TND 0.94
234.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10 MX$71.4
$3.54 TND 10.36
15.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.17 MX$177
$5.04 TND 14.74
101.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$29.17
$1.18 TND 3.46
42.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 MX$43.98
$1.06 TND 3.10
138.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Sousse
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.87
$0.31 TND 0.90
64.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.04 MX$453
$10.06 TND 29.43
158.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.3
$0.32 TND 0.93
909.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.41 MX$41.88
$0.49 TND 1.43
391.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.2
$6.00 TND 17.57
-46.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$23.00
$0.82 TND 2.40
60.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K MX$517.1K
$47.0K TND 137.6K
-36.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K MX$412.0K
$36.8K TND 107.6K
-35.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Sousse
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,428
$63.7 TND 186
28.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95 MX$400
$11.06 TND 32.38
107.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11 MX$524
$18.22 TND 53.3
65.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Sousse
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$905
$26.64 TND 77.9
95.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53 MX$323
$27.09 TND 79.3
-31.60%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98 MX$86.6
$6.41 TND 18.77
-22.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Sousse
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,438
$106 TND 311
85.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,336 MX$92.9K
$3,225 TND 9,437
65.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Sousse
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60 MX$620
$41.09 TND 120
-13.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33 MX$702
$60.3 TND 176
-33.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 MX$1,371
$153 TND 449
-48.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,549
$84.5 TND 247
5.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Sousse
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$947 MX$16.5K
$240 TND 703
294.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,254
$164 TND 480
189.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,644 MX$28.6K
$435 TND 1,272
278.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,211 MX$21.1K
$322 TND 942
276.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,056 MX$70.6K
$1,006 TND 2,944
303.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,470 MX$112.7K
$633 TND 1,853
921.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Sousse
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 MX$11.4K
$382 TND 1,117
71.24%
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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Sousse: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $240 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 71% 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 $23.00 in Sousse. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $186 – 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 73%, 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 $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,088 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 $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $725 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 159% 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 $725, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. 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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