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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,105 in Sur, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,581 in Sur, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,056 in Sur, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 17% more than Sur, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Playa del Carmen and Sur are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Sur 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$3.86 OMR 1.49

203.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$719

$25.74 OMR 9.91

61.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$7.74 OMR 2.98

37.47%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$60.8

$4.85 OMR 1.87

-27.42%

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

$1.51 MX$26.09

$0.72 OMR 0.28

109.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.82

$0.27 OMR 0.10

259.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

$12.16 OMR 4.68

-75.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

$11.80 OMR 4.54

-62.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.90

$1.58 OMR 0.61

-12.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.69

$1.22 OMR 0.47

54.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.29

$1.74 OMR 0.67

-5.75%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.30

$2.03 OMR 0.78

23.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$3.82 OMR 1.47

118.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$5.04 OMR 1.94

65.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$185

$8.29 OMR 3.19

29.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.00

$2.37 OMR 0.91

9.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.18

$1.32 OMR 0.51

10.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.84

$1.06 OMR 0.41

79.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.88

$0.75 OMR 0.29

177.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.68

$0.77 OMR 0.29

131.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.76

$0.54 OMR 0.21

305.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.97

$1.03 OMR 0.40

0.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.60

$0.54 OMR 0.21

100.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.5

$6.36 OMR 2.45

-35.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

$15.81 OMR 6.09

-34.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.59

$4.32 OMR 1.66

-60.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.50

$7.90 OMR 3.04

-67.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$457

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

$3.16 OMR 1.22

3.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.05

$0.80 OMR 0.31

211.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.1

$10.55 OMR 4.06

-69.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.59

$0.58 OMR 0.22

125.86%

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

$30.3K MX$523.2K

$23.3K OMR 8,953

30.21%

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

$23.4K MX$404.9K

$21.4K OMR 8,231

9.59%

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

$82.9 MX$1,432

$79.8 OMR 30.73

3.82%

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

$22.22 MX$384

$23.22 OMR 8.94

-4.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

$70.3 OMR 27.05

-58.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$892

$86.1 OMR 33.13

-40.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.5

$10.47 OMR 4.03

-51.58%

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

$201 MX$3,470

$195 OMR 75.0

3.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

$6,463 OMR 2,488

-19.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$638

$51.0 OMR 19.63

-27.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

$39.75 OMR 15.30

0.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,356

$78.1 OMR 30.05

0.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,505

$87.6 OMR 33.73

-0.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

$258 OMR 99.2

277.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,082

$265 OMR 102

76.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$468 OMR 180

250.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

$391 OMR 150

212.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.2K

$571 OMR 220

591.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.3K

$522 OMR 201

1144.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

$2,659 OMR 1,024

-75.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

5.15

121.75%

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 Sur: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $258 in Sur. 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 301% higher in Sur, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $26.00 in Sur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $215 – making Sur 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 Sur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,658 in Sur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sur, 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 $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $1,105 in Sur. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $195 in Sur. 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 Sur, where all-in costs run around $1,105, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Sur it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

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.

If budget matters most, go with Sur. 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.