🙂A single person spends $718 per month in Sidi Slimane vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,136 per month in Sidi Slimane vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,554 per month in Sidi Slimane vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Sidi Slimane is about 43% 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 Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sidi Slimane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.07MAD 38.06
$11.99MX$209
-66.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.10MAD 216
$41.78MX$728
-44.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.58MAD 61.6
$10.75MX$187
-38.79%
Cappuccino
$1.70MAD 15.93
$3.50MX$60.9
-51.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59MAD 5.48
$1.45MX$25.22
-59.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32MAD 3.03
$0.88MX$15.41
-63.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.90MAD 36.52
$2.95MX$51.3
32.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MAD 33.46
$4.51MX$78.6
-20.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sidi Slimane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.89MAD 8.32
$1.43MX$24.94
-37.76%
White Bread(500g)
$0.49MAD 4.61
$1.84MX$31.99
-73.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.78MAD 16.66
$1.57MX$27.31
13.38%
Eggs
$1.93MAD 18.09
$2.51MX$43.74
-23.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.84MAD 92.1
$8.28MX$144
18.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.07MAD 56.8
$8.43MX$147
-28.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.89MAD 102
$10.68MX$186
1.97%
Apples(1kg)
$1.39MAD 13.04
$2.61MX$45.43
-46.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31MAD 12.25
$1.44MX$25.04
-9.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.81MAD 7.61
$1.96MX$34.16
-58.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.81MAD 7.55
$2.09MX$36.47
-61.24%
Potato(1kg)
$0.73MAD 6.85
$1.85MX$32.24
-60.54%
Onion(1kg)
$0.76MAD 7.12
$2.17MX$37.74
-64.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.43MAD 3.98
$1.03MX$17.96
-58.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60MAD 5.61
$1.07MX$18.70
-43.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MAD 39.96
$4.10MX$71.4
4.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.70MAD 72.0
$10.17MX$177
-24.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.72MAD 25.47
$1.68MX$29.17
61.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87MAD 26.88
$2.53MX$43.98
13.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Sidi Slimane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.50MAD 4.69
$0.51MX$8.87
-1.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.40MAD 153
$26.04MX$453
-37.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.59MAD 5.52
$3.23MX$56.3
-81.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.48MAD 4.45
$2.41MX$41.88
-80.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.43MAD 41.50
$3.23MX$56.2
37.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MAD 14.37
$1.32MX$23.00
16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1KMAD 346.9K
$29.7KMX$517.1K
24.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2KMAD 273.0K
$23.7KMX$412.0K
23.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sidi Slimane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$36.78MAD 344
$82.0MX$1,428
-55.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.85MAD 102
$22.95MX$400
-52.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.94MAD 364
$30.11MX$524
29.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sidi Slimane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.14MAD 226
$52.0MX$905
-53.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.35MAD 218
$18.53MX$323
26.01%
Cinema Ticket
$6.69MAD 62.6
$4.98MX$86.6
34.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sidi Slimane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$105MAD 984
$197MX$3,438
-46.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,586MAD 33.6K
$5,336MX$92.9K
-32.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sidi Slimane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.30MAD 368
$35.60MX$620
10.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.99MAD 384
$40.33MX$702
1.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.4MAD 818
$78.8MX$1,371
10.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9MAD 673
$88.9MX$1,549
-19.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sidi Slimane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$279MAD 2,613
$947MX$16.5K
-70.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$175MAD 1,638
$474MX$8,254
-63.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$511MAD 4,780
$1,644MX$28.6K
-68.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$301MAD 2,818
$1,211MX$21.1K
-75.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,240MAD 11.6K
$4,056MX$70.6K
-69.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$912MAD 8,537
$6,470MX$112.7K
-85.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sidi Slimane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$267MAD 2,494
$654MX$11.4K
-59.24%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $279 in Sidi Slimane versus $947 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 145% 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 $23.00 in Sidi Slimane versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $191 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 75%, 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 $1,078 per month in Sidi Slimane and $1,884 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $718 in Sidi Slimane 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 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 living in Sidi Slimane or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sidi Slimane, where all-in costs run around $718, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. 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