🙂A single person spends $401 per month in Sabratha vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $595 per month in Sabratha vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $789 per month in Sabratha vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Sabratha is about 69% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Sabratha and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Sabratha71% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sabratha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.14LYD 19.82
$11.96MX$203
-73.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.28LYD 58.6
$47.38MX$804
-80.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$1.61LYD 10.18
$11.75MX$199
-86.30%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.61LYD 3.82
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65LYD 4.11
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.47LYD 2.98
$4.12MX$70.0
-88.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30LYD 1.87
$1.40MX$23.74
-78.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.08LYD 0.49
$0.91MX$15.48
-91.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.21MX$54.4
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$7.07MX$120
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sabratha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.94LYD 5.94
$1.68MX$28.44
-44.05%
White Bread(500g)
$0.22LYD 1.39
$2.15MX$36.48
-89.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.13LYD 7.14
$1.77MX$30.10
-36.16%
Eggs
$1.35LYD 8.49
$2.82MX$47.76
-52.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.98LYD 31.44
$9.20MX$156
-45.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.26LYD 20.55
$9.23MX$157
-64.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.59LYD 60.6
$12.64MX$214
-24.13%
Apples(1kg)
$2.00LYD 12.63
$2.95MX$50.1
-32.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55LYD 9.80
$1.58MX$26.79
-1.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.77LYD 4.83
$2.22MX$37.70
-65.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.51LYD 3.24
$2.36MX$40.09
-78.39%
Potato(1kg)
$0.46LYD 2.89
$1.99MX$33.81
-76.88%
Onion(1kg)
$0.32LYD 2.05
$1.98MX$33.58
-83.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.32LYD 2.03
$1.24MX$21.04
-74.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.15LYD 0.92
$1.21MX$20.55
-87.60%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.85LYD 11.65
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07LYD 6.74
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80LYD 5.03
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.85LYD 11.67
$4.60MX$78.1
-59.78%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.52MX$178
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.69MX$28.70
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.77MX$47.06
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sabratha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.82LYD 5.20
$0.60MX$10.22
36.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.70MX$504
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.81LYD 5.10
$5.24MX$88.8
-84.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30LYD 1.89
$3.65MX$61.9
-91.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.82LYD 5.20
$5.78MX$98.1
-85.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.02LYD 0.14
$1.54MX$26.09
-98.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4KLYD 147.6K
$22.8KMX$386.8K
2.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.2KLYD 89.6K
$25.8KMX$437.9K
-45.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sabratha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$95.0LYD 599
$90.7MX$1,538
4.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.87LYD 24.40
$25.19MX$427
-84.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.89LYD 87.7
$31.75MX$539
-56.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sabratha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$11.04LYD 69.7
$68.8MX$1,167
-83.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.73LYD 48.76
$29.37MX$498
-73.68%
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.86MX$82.5
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sabratha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$38.67LYD 244
$226MX$3,828
-82.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$607LYD 3,832
$4,194MX$71.1K
-85.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sabratha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.00LYD 126
$47.38MX$804
-57.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.29LYD 109
$43.45MX$737
-60.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$55.6LYD 351
$80.2MX$1,361
-30.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$15.56LYD 98.2
$91.4MX$1,550
-82.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sabratha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$156LYD 985
$1,086MX$18.4K
-85.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$78.3LYD 494
$409MX$6,933
-80.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$240LYD 1,518
$1,972MX$33.5K
-87.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$110LYD 696
$1,281MX$21.7K
-91.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$287LYD 1,812
$4,046MX$68.6K
-92.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$186LYD 1,175
$6,704MX$113.7K
-97.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sabratha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$188LYD 1,189
$773MX$13.1K
-75.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
11.45
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sabratha: September 6, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $156 in Sabratha versus $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. 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 311% 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 $9.00 in Sabratha versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $112 vs $278 – making Sabratha 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
Sabratha vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Sabratha?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 226%, 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 $601 per month in Sabratha and $1,958 in Playa del Carmen. 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 Sabratha, 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 Sabratha and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $401 in Sabratha and $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $38.67 per month in Sabratha and $226 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Sabratha or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sabratha, where all-in costs run around $401, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Sabratha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sabratha or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sabratha – 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 Sabratha. 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.