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 $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $814 in Sucre, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,219 in Sucre, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,623 in Sucre, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 56% more than Sucre, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Sucre are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Sucre 39% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Sucre
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87 MX$204
$1.77 BOB 12.16
570.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90 MX$736
$14.62 BOB 100
193.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.65 MX$183
$5.95 BOB 40.78
78.99%
Cappuccino
$3.45 MX$59.2
$2.40 BOB 16.41
43.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 MX$25.81
$0.62 BOB 4.23
141.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 MX$16.28
$0.60 BOB 4.14
58.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$51.9
$1.44 BOB 9.89
110.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 MX$79.1
$2.24 BOB 15.32
105.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Sucre
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.61
$0.84 BOB 5.76
64.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$31.70
$1.41 BOB 9.64
31.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.65
$1.25 BOB 8.55
28.80%
Eggs
$2.59 MX$44.51
$1.76 BOB 12.07
47.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.26 MX$142
$4.43 BOB 30.32
86.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.37 MX$144
$3.04 BOB 20.82
175.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.66 MX$183
$4.32 BOB 29.56
146.76%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 MX$45.12
$1.82 BOB 12.44
44.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.53
$0.82 BOB 5.63
81.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 MX$32.94
$0.71 BOB 4.86
170.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$35.81
$2.94 BOB 20.16
-28.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$31.88
$0.41 BOB 2.81
353.66%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.81
$0.69 BOB 4.71
227.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 MX$18.23
$0.30 BOB 2.06
253.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.67
$1.00 BOB 6.82
9.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15 MX$71.2
$1.92 BOB 13.15
116.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.39 MX$178
$10.12 BOB 69.3
2.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$29.59
$1.71 BOB 11.74
0.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$44.85
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Sucre
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.30
$0.30 BOB 2.07
80.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.94 MX$462
$23.36 BOB 160
15.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$53.7
$0.69 BOB 4.70
353.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.51 MX$43.09
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.15 MX$54.1
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$21.88
$1.01 BOB 6.95
25.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K MX$521.3K
$14.5K BOB 99.3K
109.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K MX$404.5K
$17.3K BOB 118.2K
36.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Sucre
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 MX$1,425
$13.91 BOB 95.3
496.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71 MX$390
$20.82 BOB 143
9.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46 MX$506
$26.04 BOB 178
13.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Sucre
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 MX$875
$22.96 BOB 157
122.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33 MX$315
$11.57 BOB 79.3
58.43%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93 MX$84.5
$6.59 BOB 45.17
-25.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Sucre
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,386
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,280 MX$90.6K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Sucre
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90 MX$633
$35.50 BOB 243
3.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89 MX$685
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.0 MX$1,373
$71.9 BOB 493
11.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5 MX$1,536
$65.6 BOB 450
36.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Sucre
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$956 MX$16.4K
$650 BOB 4,451
47.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$477 MX$8,189
$380 BOB 2,603
25.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,646 MX$28.3K
$1,039 BOB 7,117
58.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,225 MX$21.0K
$687 BOB 4,705
78.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,918 MX$67.2K
$882 BOB 6,045
343.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,459 MX$110.9K
$567 BOB 3,881
1040.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Sucre
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$667 MX$11.4K
$317 BOB 2,174
110.17%
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Sucre: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $650 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 110% 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 $15.00 in Sucre. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $152 – 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 56%, 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 $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,221 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 $1,271 in Playa del Carmen and $814 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 $15.00 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 $814, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. 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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