😐A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $653 in Suran, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,033 in Suran, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,413 in Suran, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 94% more than Suran, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Suran are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen7% lower, Suran52% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Suran
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$10.07SYP 1,224
15.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$811
$44.17SYP 5,367
6.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$6.99SYP 849
69.96%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.5
$3.77SYP 459
5.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.57
$2.22SYP 269
-35.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.20
$0.81SYP 97.9
1.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$54.9
$1.88SYP 228
69.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$2.96SYP 360
129.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Suran
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.85
$1.06SYP 129
58.49%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.83
$0.42SYP 50.9
423.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.41
$1.58SYP 192
8.23%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.20
$1.62SYP 197
69.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$3.84SYP 467
149.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$5.54SYP 673
62.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$13.93SYP 1,693
-8.04%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.74
$1.07SYP 130
170.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.78
$1.38SYP 168
8.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.98
$1.14SYP 139
88.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.91
$1.02SYP 124
121.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.10
$0.78SYP 95.3
153.85%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.26
$0.80SYP 97.2
148.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.25
$0.43SYP 52.7
186.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.60
$0.61SYP 74.4
96.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.3
$2.75SYP 334
65.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$6.00SYP 729
72.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.88
$1.05SYP 128
54.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.60
$2.96SYP 359
-2.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Suran
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.34
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$496
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.8
$1.03SYP 125
423.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.2
$1.50SYP 183
148.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.3
$7.73SYP 940
-25.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.45
$3.76SYP 457
-59.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.3K
$14.7KSYP 1.8M
53.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$448.7K
$19.2KSYP 2.3M
35.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Suran
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,573
$138SYP 16.8K
-33.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$434
$9.54SYP 1,159
164.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$538
$45.96SYP 5,585
-32.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Suran
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,157
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$501
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.7
$5.51SYP 670
-11.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Suran
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,851
$66.7SYP 8,103
235.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.8K
$1,748SYP 212.3K
141.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Suran
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$811
$28.05SYP 3,408
67.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$763
$39.74SYP 4,829
11.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,379
$60.4SYP 7,341
32.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,596
$57.2SYP 6,946
62.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Suran
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,719
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$68.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Suran
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
14.25
-19.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Last update for Suran: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $44.00 in Suran. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $168 – making Suran 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 Suran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Suran cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 94%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $980 in Suran. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Suran?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $653 in Suran. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $224 per month in Playa del Carmen and $66.7 in Suran. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Suran?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Suran, where all-in costs run around $653, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Suran it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Suran more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Suran – 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 Suran. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared