Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Sugar Land, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Sugar Land, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,259 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,551 in Sugar Land, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,177 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,548 in Sugar Land, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,095 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,544 in Sugar Land, TX, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 51% cheaper than Sugar Land, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Sugar Land, TX is 91% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.95 MX$208

$19.04 $19.04

-37.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.94 MX$730

$70.7 $70.7

-40.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.42 MX$181

$9.99 $9.99

4.30%

Cappuccino

$3.51 MX$61.2

$5.16 $5.16

-31.98%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 MX$26.39

$2.81 $2.81

-45.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.84

$1.93 $1.93

-52.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 MX$52.9

$6.10 $6.10

-50.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 MX$76.1

$7.08 $7.08

-38.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 MX$24.73

$0.93 $0.93

52.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 MX$31.87

$3.09 $3.09

-40.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 MX$28.45

$4.76 $4.76

-65.76%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$44.20

$4.09 $4.09

-37.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.57 MX$149

$12.71 $12.71

-32.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.49 MX$148

$12.29 $12.29

-30.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 MX$188

$17.41 $17.41

-37.97%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 MX$47.94

$4.16 $4.16

-33.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.00

$1.44 $1.44

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 MX$32.83

$4.16 $4.16

-54.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.77

$3.24 $3.24

-33.02%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.97

$1.90 $1.90

-6.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.22 MX$38.71

$2.51 $2.51

-11.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.60

$1.69 $1.69

-36.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.79

$2.15 $2.15

-49.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.15 MX$72.2

$9.01 $9.01

-53.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.45 MX$182

$14.28 $14.28

-26.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 MX$30.34

$2.05 $2.05

-15.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.92

$3.83 $3.83

-32.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.94

$1.98 $1.98

-74.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.94 MX$451

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.21 MX$55.9

$3.56 $3.56

-9.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.50 MX$43.55

$1.89 $1.89

32.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 MX$55.4

$30.02 $30.02

-89.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 MX$21.87

$0.74 $0.74

70.27%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.7K MX$516.6K

$28.8K $28.8K

3.15%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.7K MX$412.1K

$25.7K $25.7K

-7.85%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.0 MX$1,427

$197 $197

-58.39%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.73 MX$395

$60.6 $60.6

-62.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.42 MX$512

$74.5 $74.5

-60.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.2 MX$908

$42.15 $42.15

23.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.45 MX$321

Cinema Ticket

$4.93 MX$85.9

$13.76 $13.76

-64.17%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$202 MX$3,511

$1,137 $1,137

-82.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,217 MX$90.8K

$16.2K $16.2K

-67.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.93 MX$625

$46.21 $46.21

-22.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$702

$40.75 $40.75

-1.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 MX$1,390

$90.6 $90.6

-11.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.3 MX$1,554

$124 $124

-28.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$948 MX$16.5K

$1,598 $1,598

-40.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MX$8,097

$1,345 $1,345

-65.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,630 MX$28.4K

$2,442 $2,442

-33.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,193 MX$20.8K

$1,826 $1,826

-34.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,933 MX$68.4K

$1,921 $1,921

104.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,428 MX$111.9K

$1,853 $1,853

246.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$658 MX$11.5K

$7,310 $7,310

-90.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

6.44

77.33%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026

Last update for Sugar Land, TX: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $948 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,598 in Sugar Land, TX. 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 1010% higher in Sugar Land, TX, 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 $71.0 in Sugar Land, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $379 – making Playa del Carmen 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 Sugar Land, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sugar Land, TX is pricier by about 103%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,888 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,827 in Sugar Land, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,259 in Playa del Carmen and $2,551 in Sugar Land, TX. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $202 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,137 in Sugar Land, TX. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,259, than in Sugar Land, TX at $2,551. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sugar Land, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sugar Land, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.