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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $614 per month in Sfax vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $998 per month in Sfax vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,382 per month in Sfax vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Sfax is about 53% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sfax and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Sfax 54% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.32 TND 9.58

$11.73 MX$203

-71.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.66 TND 59.7

$41.62 MX$719

-50.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.42 TND 9.90

$10.64 MX$184

-67.86%

Cappuccino

$0.76 TND 2.18

$3.52 MX$60.8

-78.41%

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

$0.64 TND 1.86

$1.51 MX$26.09

-57.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 TND 0.72

$0.97 MX$16.82

-74.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 TND 4.51

$2.95 MX$51.0

-47.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 TND 5.47

$4.45 MX$77.0

-57.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.54 TND 1.57

$1.38 MX$23.90

-60.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.18 TND 0.52

$1.89 MX$32.69

-90.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 TND 4.47

$1.64 MX$28.29

-5.49%

Eggs

$1.66 TND 4.79

$2.51 MX$43.30

-33.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.33 TND 32.74

$8.34 MX$144

35.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.62 TND 16.24

$8.34 MX$144

-32.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.48 TND 38.95

$10.73 MX$185

25.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.22 TND 6.41

$2.60 MX$45.00

-14.62%

Banana (1kg)

$2.97 TND 8.60

$1.46 MX$25.18

103.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 TND 2.93

$1.90 MX$32.84

-46.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 TND 2.02

$2.08 MX$35.88

-66.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.80 TND 2.32

$1.78 MX$30.68

-55.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 TND 2.18

$2.19 MX$37.76

-65.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 TND 1.41

$1.04 MX$17.97

-52.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 TND 0.88

$1.08 MX$18.60

-71.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.48 TND 10.05

$4.08 MX$70.5

-14.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.69 TND 19.32

$10.32 MX$178

-35.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 TND 3.20

$1.71 MX$29.59

-35.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 TND 3.19

$2.58 MX$44.50

-57.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 TND 0.53

$0.51 MX$8.81

-64.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.29 TND 29.74

$26.46 MX$457

-61.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.30 TND 0.86

$3.26 MX$56.4

-90.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 TND 0.88

$2.49 MX$43.05

-87.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.31 TND 21.13

$3.25 MX$56.1

124.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 TND 2.41

$1.31 MX$22.59

-36.64%

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

$35.1K TND 101.4K

$30.3K MX$523.2K

15.93%

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

$34.1K TND 98.7K

$23.4K MX$404.9K

45.74%

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

$46.04 TND 133

$82.9 MX$1,432

-44.44%

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

$9.67 TND 27.96

$22.22 MX$384

-56.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.90 TND 43.05

$29.34 MX$507

-49.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.11 TND 78.3

$51.6 MX$892

-47.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.31 TND 21.14

$18.32 MX$317

-60.10%

Cinema Ticket

$4.51 TND 13.03

$5.07 MX$87.5

-11.05%

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

$106 TND 307

$201 MX$3,470

-47.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,494 TND 7,207

$5,212 MX$90.1K

-52.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.42 TND 128

$36.92 MX$638

20.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.53 TND 126

$39.79 MX$688

9.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 TND 289

$78.5 MX$1,356

27.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.8 TND 190

$87.1 MX$1,505

-24.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$187 TND 542

$973 MX$16.8K

-80.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$133 TND 384

$468 MX$8,082

-71.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$333 TND 962

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-79.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$248 TND 718

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-79.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,031 TND 2,980

$3,946 MX$68.2K

-73.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$663 TND 1,915

$6,498 MX$112.3K

-89.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$322 TND 931

$664 MX$11.5K

-51.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.6

11.42

19.09%

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

Last update for Sfax: May 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $187 in Sfax 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 106% 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 $21.00 in Sfax versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $249 – making Sfax 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 111%, 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 $921 per month in Sfax 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 Sfax, 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 $614 in Sfax 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 157% less in Sfax. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sfax, where all-in costs run around $614, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Sfax it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sfax – 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 Sfax. 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.