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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $329 per month in Sabratha vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $545 per month in Sabratha vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $761 per month in Sabratha vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Sabratha is about 74% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sabratha and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Sabratha 75% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sabratha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.72 LYD 30.09
$11.99 MX$209
-60.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.23 LYD 116
$41.78 MX$728
-56.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.62 LYD 23.09
$10.75 MX$187
-66.33%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.56 LYD 3.60
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 LYD 4.23
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.52 LYD 3.30
$3.50 MX$60.9
-85.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 LYD 3.13
$1.45 MX$25.22
-66.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.10 LYD 0.62
$0.88 MX$15.41
-88.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.95 MX$51.3
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.51 MX$78.6
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sabratha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 LYD 6.57
$1.43 MX$24.94
-27.97%
White Bread (500g)
$0.23 LYD 1.47
$1.84 MX$31.99
-87.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 LYD 7.60
$1.57 MX$27.31
-24.20%
Eggs
$1.44 LYD 9.19
$2.51 MX$43.74
-42.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.97 LYD 31.66
$8.28 MX$144
-39.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.28 LYD 20.90
$8.43 MX$147
-61.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.12 LYD 64.5
$10.68 MX$186
-5.24%
Apples (1kg)
$2.21 LYD 14.05
$2.61 MX$45.43
-15.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.34 LYD 8.55
$1.44 MX$25.04
-6.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.75 LYD 4.79
$1.96 MX$34.16
-61.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.52 LYD 3.32
$2.09 MX$36.47
-75.12%
Potato (1kg)
$0.68 LYD 4.35
$1.85 MX$32.24
-63.24%
Onion (1kg)
$0.53 LYD 3.37
$2.17 MX$37.74
-75.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.39 LYD 2.48
$1.03 MX$17.96
-62.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.22 LYD 1.40
$1.07 MX$18.70
-79.44%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.23 LYD 7.86
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 LYD 4.56
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 LYD 4.20
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.88 LYD 11.97
$4.10 MX$71.4
-54.15%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$10.17 MX$177
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.68 MX$29.17
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.53 MX$43.98
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sabratha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.51 MX$8.87
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.04 MX$453
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.94 LYD 6.01
$3.23 MX$56.3
-70.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.89 LYD 5.66
$2.41 MX$41.88
-63.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.48 LYD 28.53
$3.23 MX$56.2
38.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.03 LYD 0.17
$1.32 MX$23.00
-97.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.0K LYD 89.2K
$29.7K MX$517.1K
-52.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.2K LYD 103.3K
$23.7K MX$412.0K
-31.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sabratha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$31.71 LYD 202
$82.0 MX$1,428
-61.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.99 LYD 50.9
$22.95 MX$400
-65.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.19 LYD 148
$30.11 MX$524
-22.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sabratha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$52.0 MX$905
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.53 MX$323
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.50 LYD 28.67
$4.98 MX$86.6
-9.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sabratha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$53.2 LYD 339
$197 MX$3,438
-73.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$913 LYD 5,813
$5,336 MX$92.9K
-82.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sabratha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.31 LYD 136
$35.60 MX$620
-40.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.64 LYD 227
$40.33 MX$702
-11.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$50.9 LYD 324
$78.8 MX$1,371
-35.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.8 LYD 362
$88.9 MX$1,549
-36.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sabratha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$947 MX$16.5K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$474 MX$8,254
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,644 MX$28.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,211 MX$21.1K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$282 LYD 1,794
$4,056 MX$70.6K
-93.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$190 LYD 1,210
$6,470 MX$112.7K
-97.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sabratha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$189 LYD 1,202
$654 MX$11.4K
-71.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
17.5
11.42
53.24%

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

Last update for Sabratha: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 246% 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 $18.00 in Sabratha versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $117 vs $249 – 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 282%, 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 $493 per month in Sabratha and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Sabratha and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $329 in Sabratha and $1,256 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 $53.2 per month in Sabratha and $197 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 $329, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. 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.

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