🙂A single person spends $722 per month in Sidi Slimane vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,140 per month in Sidi Slimane vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,558 per month in Sidi Slimane vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Sidi Slimane is about 44% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Sidi Slimane and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Sidi Slimane46% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sidi Slimane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.23MAD 38.99
$11.73MX$203
-63.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.87MAD 220
$41.62MX$719
-42.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.82MAD 62.8
$10.64MX$184
-35.90%
Cappuccino
$1.67MAD 15.35
$3.52MX$60.8
-52.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58MAD 5.36
$1.51MX$26.09
-61.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36MAD 3.28
$0.97MX$16.82
-62.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.78MAD 34.83
$2.95MX$51.0
28.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73MAD 34.39
$4.45MX$77.0
-16.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sidi Slimane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.84MAD 7.74
$1.38MX$23.90
-39.13%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52MAD 4.79
$1.89MX$32.69
-72.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70MAD 15.67
$1.64MX$28.29
3.66%
Eggs
$2.01MAD 18.54
$2.51MX$43.30
-19.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.97MAD 91.8
$8.34MX$144
19.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.16MAD 56.8
$8.34MX$144
-26.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.97MAD 101
$10.73MX$185
2.24%
Apples(1kg)
$1.35MAD 12.41
$2.60MX$45.00
-48.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.29MAD 11.90
$1.46MX$25.18
-11.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.76MAD 7.01
$1.90MX$32.84
-60.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.79MAD 7.23
$2.08MX$35.88
-62.02%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67MAD 6.21
$1.78MX$30.68
-62.36%
Onion(1kg)
$0.76MAD 7.04
$2.19MX$37.76
-65.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.42MAD 3.90
$1.04MX$17.97
-59.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62MAD 5.71
$1.08MX$18.60
-42.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MAD 38.26
$4.08MX$70.5
1.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.88MAD 81.8
$10.32MX$178
-13.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.69MAD 24.81
$1.71MX$29.59
57.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MAD 26.53
$2.58MX$44.50
11.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Sidi Slimane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MAD 4.72
$0.51MX$8.81
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.66MAD 153
$26.46MX$457
-37.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.58MAD 5.35
$3.26MX$56.4
-82.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.48MAD 4.41
$2.49MX$43.05
-80.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.48MAD 41.30
$3.25MX$56.1
37.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.52MAD 13.99
$1.31MX$22.59
16.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7KMAD 346.8K
$30.3KMX$523.2K
24.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2KMAD 268.5K
$23.4KMX$404.9K
24.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sidi Slimane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$35.89MAD 331
$82.9MX$1,432
-56.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.12MAD 102
$22.22MX$384
-49.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.13MAD 360
$29.34MX$507
33.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sidi Slimane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.97MAD 221
$51.6MX$892
-53.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.15MAD 213
$18.32MX$317
26.36%
Cinema Ticket
$6.72MAD 61.9
$5.07MX$87.5
32.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sidi Slimane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$106MAD 978
$201MX$3,470
-47.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,513MAD 32.4K
$5,212MX$90.1K
-32.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sidi Slimane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.89MAD 358
$36.92MX$638
5.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.73MAD 375
$39.79MX$688
2.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.2MAD 813
$78.5MX$1,356
12.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.1MAD 664
$87.1MX$1,505
-17.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sidi Slimane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$276MAD 2,541
$973MX$16.8K
-71.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$176MAD 1,625
$468MX$8,082
-62.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$513MAD 4,722
$1,641MX$28.4K
-68.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$303MAD 2,795
$1,221MX$21.1K
-75.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,542MAD 14.2K
$3,946MX$68.2K
-60.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$915MAD 8,428
$6,498MX$112.3K
-85.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sidi Slimane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$664MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.78
11.42
-58.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sidi Slimane: June 1, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $276 in Sidi Slimane 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Sidi Slimane versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $249 – making Sidi Slimane 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
Sidi Slimane vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Sidi Slimane?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 80%, 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 $1,083 per month in Sidi Slimane and $1,945 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 Sidi Slimane, 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 Sidi Slimane vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $722 in Sidi Slimane and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 59% less in Sidi Slimane. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Sidi Slimane or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sidi Slimane, where all-in costs run around $722, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Sidi Slimane it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sidi Slimane or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sidi Slimane – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Sidi Slimane or Playa del Carmen?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Sidi Slimane. 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.
Sidi Slimane vs other spots: cost of living compared