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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $210 per month in Sebha vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $284 per month in Sebha vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $358 per month in Sebha vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Sebha is about 83% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sebha and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Sebha 84% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 MX$203

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.89 MX$725

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 MX$182

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.0

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

$1.51 MX$26.10

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 MX$15.83

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 MX$51.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 MX$76.3

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 LYD 5.58

$1.40 MX$24.16

-37.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.60

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.77 LYD 4.91

$1.56 MX$26.97

-50.64%

Eggs

$1.29 LYD 8.22

$2.61 MX$45.14

-50.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 MX$144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.35 MX$145

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.49 LYD 54.1

$10.86 MX$188

-21.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.01 LYD 12.81

$2.71 MX$46.93

-25.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 LYD 8.47

$1.51 MX$26.04

-11.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 LYD 5.89

$1.87 MX$32.41

-50.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 LYD 3.12

$2.19 MX$37.89

-77.63%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 LYD 3.05

$1.86 MX$32.14

-74.19%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 LYD 3.31

$2.23 MX$38.59

-76.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.48

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 LYD 1.82

$1.09 MX$18.79

-73.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.4

Wine (Bottle)

$10.43 MX$180

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 MX$28.68

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$45.19

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 MX$53.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 LYD 6.53

$2.40 MX$41.61

-57.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.03 LYD 0.20

$1.31 MX$22.69

-97.71%

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

$29.8K MX$515.7K

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

$23.3K MX$403.5K

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

$24.76 LYD 158

$81.3 MX$1,406

-69.54%

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

$22.56 MX$390

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.05 MX$520

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.20 LYD 52.3

$52.9 MX$915

-84.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MX$85.1

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

$201 MX$3,474

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$89.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.92 MX$622

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.13 MX$694

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 MX$1,379

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,496

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$138 LYD 882

$978 MX$16.9K

-85.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$100 LYD 640

$470 MX$8,140

-78.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 LYD 1,274

$1,651 MX$28.6K

-87.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$122 LYD 780

$1,203 MX$20.8K

-89.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MX$11.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for Sebha: July 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $138 in Sebha versus $978 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.

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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 500%, 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 $315 per month in Sebha and $1,890 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 Sebha, 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 $210 in Sebha and $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 247% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sebha, where all-in costs run around $210, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Sebha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sebha – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Sebha. 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.