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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $991 per month in Samsun vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,509 per month in Samsun vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,027 per month in Samsun vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Samsun is about 24% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Samsun and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Samsun 26% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.65 ₺351

$11.73 MX$203

-34.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.10 ₺1,153

$41.62 MX$720

-39.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.99 ₺413

$10.64 MX$184

-15.51%

Cappuccino

$2.81 ₺129

$3.52 MX$60.9

-20.17%

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

$1.30 ₺59.9

$1.51 MX$26.12

-13.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 ₺10.97

$0.97 MX$16.84

-75.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.84 ₺130

$2.95 MX$51.0

-3.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 ₺136

$4.45 MX$77.0

-33.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 ₺48.41

$1.38 MX$23.93

-23.91%

White Bread (500g)

$0.40 ₺18.32

$1.89 MX$32.72

-78.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.90 ₺179

$1.64 MX$28.32

137.80%

Eggs

$1.71 ₺78.6

$2.51 MX$43.34

-31.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.10 ₺418

$8.34 MX$144

9.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.02 ₺460

$8.34 MX$144

20.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.35 ₺889

$10.73 MX$186

80.34%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 ₺59.6

$2.60 MX$45.04

-50.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 ₺51.3

$1.46 MX$25.20

-23.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 ₺42.10

$1.90 MX$32.87

-51.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 ₺57.1

$2.08 MX$35.91

-40.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.60 ₺27.70

$1.78 MX$30.71

-66.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.60 ₺27.77

$2.19 MX$37.80

-72.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ₺33.76

$1.04 MX$17.99

-29.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₺31.29

$1.08 MX$18.62

-37.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.04 ₺93.9

$4.08 MX$70.6

-50.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.62 ₺442

$10.32 MX$178

-6.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 ₺92.5

$1.71 MX$29.61

17.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 ₺115

$2.58 MX$44.54

-3.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 ₺27.00

$0.51 MX$8.81

15.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.66 ₺444

$26.46 MX$458

-63.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 ₺104

$3.26 MX$56.4

-30.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 ₺27.90

$2.49 MX$43.09

-75.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.65 ₺214

$3.25 MX$56.2

43.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₺51.8

$1.31 MX$22.61

-13.74%

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

$42.8K ₺2.0M

$30.3K MX$523.7K

41.49%

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

$49.6K ₺2.3M

$23.4K MX$405.3K

111.66%

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

$49.83 ₺2,290

$82.9 MX$1,433

-39.87%

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

$10.99 ₺505

$22.22 MX$384

-50.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.23 ₺516

$29.34 MX$507

-61.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$82.3 ₺3,780

$51.6 MX$893

59.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$5.75 ₺264

$5.07 MX$87.6

13.41%

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

$500 ₺23.0K

$201 MX$3,473

148.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,735 ₺171.6K

$5,212 MX$90.1K

-28.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.79 ₺1,736

$36.92 MX$639

2.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.67 ₺2,098

$39.79 MX$688

14.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 ₺4,033

$78.5 MX$1,357

11.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.24 ₺2,079

$87.1 MX$1,506

-48.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₺23.0K

$973 MX$16.8K

-48.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$328 ₺15.1K

$468 MX$8,090

-29.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$724 ₺33.3K

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-55.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$523 ₺24.0K

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-57.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$795 ₺36.5K

$3,946 MX$68.3K

-79.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$429 ₺19.7K

$6,498 MX$112.4K

-93.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,006 ₺46.2K

$664 MX$11.5K

51.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

43.33

11.42

279.42%

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

Last update for Samsun: June 2, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Samsun versus $973 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 52% higher in Samsun, 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 $25.00 in Samsun versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $249 – making Samsun 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

Samsun vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,487 per month in Samsun and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Samsun, 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 $991 in Samsun and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 174% less in Samsun. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Samsun, where all-in costs run around $991, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Samsun it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Samsun – 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 Samsun. 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.