Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Suva

For one person, living is cheaper in Suva: $941 a month against $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $3,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Suva, Fiji
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Suva
🇫🇯 Fiji
$941
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Suva

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Suva actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $941 in Suva, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Suva $941

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,702 in Suva, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Suva $1,702

A family of three spends $2,959 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,463 in Suva, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Suva $2,463

Playa del Carmen costs about 28% more than Suva, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Suva are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 12% lower, Suva 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Suva
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$205
$5.93 FJD 13.24
84.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$815
$43.61 FJD 97.4
-0.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$221
$7.67 FJD 17.13
53.59%
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$71.6
$2.90 FJD 6.47
31.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$24.10
$1.52 FJD 3.40
-15.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.71
$0.74 FJD 1.65
5.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$59.5
$3.47 FJD 7.75
-8.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$92.7
$4.56 FJD 10.19
8.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Suva
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.43
$1.31 FJD 2.93
7.63%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.66
$0.52 FJD 1.17
326.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.64
$1.11 FJD 2.49
27.93%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$47.41
$3.22 FJD 7.19
-21.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$137
$10.40 FJD 23.20
-30.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$145
$6.32 FJD 14.10
21.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$239
$7.68 FJD 17.15
65.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$52.3
$2.46 FJD 5.50
13.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.71
$2.50 FJD 5.59
-45.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.94
$3.43 FJD 7.65
-25.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.90
$3.21 FJD 7.16
-33.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.43
$1.24 FJD 2.76
56.45%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.44
$1.10 FJD 2.45
71.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.55
$1.20 FJD 2.67
-4.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$22.16
$0.69 FJD 1.53
71.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$80.7
$10.02 FJD 22.37
-57.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$187
$7.22 FJD 16.11
37.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.76
$2.12 FJD 4.73
-25.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$50.2
$3.37 FJD 7.53
-20.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Suva
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.40
$0.71 FJD 1.58
-22.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$500
$24.49 FJD 54.7
8.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$93.4
$0.87 FJD 1.93
471.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$62.6
$0.43 FJD 0.96
674.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$101
$9.04 FJD 20.17
-40.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$27.14
$1.44 FJD 3.21
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$388.4K
$24.4K FJD 54.4K
-15.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$441.0K
$25.4K FJD 56.7K
-7.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Suva
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,594
$45.96 FJD 103
84.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$440
$12.73 FJD 28.41
83.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$539
$23.66 FJD 52.8
21.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Suva
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,072
$36.73 FJD 82.0
55.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$543
$10.99 FJD 24.52
163.06%
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$96.6
$3.38 FJD 7.54
52.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Suva
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,882
$224 FJD 499
-7.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$73.8K
$13.2K FJD 29.5K
-70.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Suva
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$815
$33.66 FJD 75.1
28.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$779
$39.60 FJD 88.4
4.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,394
$69.9 FJD 156
6.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,677
$61.5 FJD 137
45.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Suva
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.4K
$891 FJD 1,989
9.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,157
$322 FJD 720
18.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$32.1K
$2,636 FJD 5,882
-35.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.2K
$978 FJD 2,182
9.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$74.1K
$1,327 FJD 2,962
197.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$115.7K
$827 FJD 1,847
644.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Suva
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.8K
$946 FJD 2,112
-22.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
7.7
48.70%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Last update for Suva: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Suva
$322 15.3% $58
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Suva
$229 10% $25
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Suva
$141 30.4% $62
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Suva
$82 39.8% $55
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Suva
$92 17.6% $20
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Suva
$43 35.4% $24
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Suva
$30 39.9% $20

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $891 in Suva. 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 29% higher in Suva, 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 $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $44 in Suva. Groceries tell a different story – $255 in Playa del Carmen vs $229 in Suva – so Suva wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇫🇯 Suva
🕒 Local time
05:07 5:07 AM
22:07 10:07 PM
17 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
100,000 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

FJD, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18.79 MXN (100 MXN = 5.32 USD). 1 EUR = 20.97 MXN (100 MXN = 4.77 EUR).

Fijian Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 2.23 FJD (1 FJD = 0.448 USD). 1 EUR = 2.49 FJD (1 FJD = 0.401 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Suva 11,160 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Suva

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Suva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Suva cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 28%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,806 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,411 in Suva. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Suva?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $980 in Playa del Carmen and $891 in Suva. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Suva?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,204 in Playa del Carmen and $941 in Suva. That makes Suva about 22% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $207 per month in Playa del Carmen and $224 in Suva. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $800 enough to cover costs in Playa del Carmen or in Suva?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,204 in Playa del Carmen and $941 in Suva. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is it better to live in Playa del Carmen or in Suva?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $941 in Suva to $1,204 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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