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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $816 in Sucre, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,232 in Sucre, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,649 in Sucre, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 58% more than Sucre, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Sucre are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Sucre 39% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Sucre
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94 MX$209
$1.78 BOB 12.35
570.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$748
$14.44 BOB 99.9
196.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 MX$185
$5.86 BOB 40.56
80.72%
Cappuccino
$3.62 MX$63.4
$2.40 BOB 16.62
50.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.69
$0.61 BOB 4.25
140.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 MX$16.51
$0.56 BOB 3.89
67.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$54.1
$1.38 BOB 9.54
123.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 MX$78.0
$2.15 BOB 14.90
107.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Sucre
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$0.90 BOB 6.20
58.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.97
$1.43 BOB 9.91
31.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.50
$1.20 BOB 8.32
35.83%
Eggs
$2.64 MX$46.26
$1.68 BOB 11.64
57.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 MX$144
$4.48 BOB 30.99
83.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$3.04 BOB 21.06
172.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.10 MX$194
$4.22 BOB 29.22
163.03%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 MX$46.40
$1.82 BOB 12.56
45.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$26.26
$0.89 BOB 6.16
68.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.79
$0.70 BOB 4.87
184.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.33
$2.89 BOB 20.02
-28.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.29
$0.45 BOB 3.10
297.78%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.09
$0.74 BOB 5.13
194.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.84
$0.30 BOB 2.11
260.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 MX$18.15
$0.99 BOB 6.86
5.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 MX$69.5
$1.92 BOB 13.28
106.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.20 MX$179
$10.32 BOB 71.4
-1.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.22
$1.75 BOB 12.08
-1.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 MX$43.71
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Sucre
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.07
$0.28 BOB 1.91
85.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.97 MX$472
$22.93 BOB 159
17.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$55.0
$0.70 BOB 4.86
348.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$42.04
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 MX$54.0
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$22.28
$1.01 BOB 7.01
25.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K MX$540.4K
$14.7K BOB 101.4K
110.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$408.0K
$17.7K BOB 122.1K
32.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Sucre
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,435
$14.40 BOB 99.7
469.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45 MX$393
$20.91 BOB 145
7.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66 MX$519
$25.67 BOB 178
15.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Sucre
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.9 MX$908
$22.81 BOB 158
127.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67 MX$327
$11.45 BOB 79.3
63.06%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 MX$87.0
$6.37 BOB 44.09
-21.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Sucre
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,462
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,273 MX$92.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Sucre
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34 MX$636
$36.08 BOB 250
0.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05 MX$701
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 MX$1,398
$70.8 BOB 490
12.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,555
$65.4 BOB 452
36.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Sucre
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.9K
$638 BOB 4,413
51.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,133
$379 BOB 2,625
22.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,596 MX$27.9K
$1,066 BOB 7,375
49.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 MX$21.2K
$679 BOB 4,695
78.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,942 MX$69.0K
$876 BOB 6,062
349.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,448 MX$112.8K
$588 BOB 4,066
997.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Sucre
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$720 MX$12.6K
$365 BOB 2,528
97.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
0
-

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Last update for Sucre: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $638 in Sucre. 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 97% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $14.00 in Sucre. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $153 – making Sucre 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 Sucre: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sucre cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 58%, 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 $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,224 in Sucre. 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 Sucre, 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 Sucre?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $816 in Sucre. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or Sucre?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen and $14.00 in Sucre. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Sucre?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sucre, where all-in costs run around $816, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Sucre it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Sucre more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sucre – 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 Sucre?
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 Sucre. 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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