🙂A single person spends $1,000 per month in Sidon vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,584 per month in Sidon vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,168 per month in Sidon vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Sidon is about 23% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Sidon and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Sidon27% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sidon
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.11LBP 1.1M
$11.96MX$203
1.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.3LBP 5.8M
$47.38MX$804
35.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.96LBP 891.8K
$11.75MX$199
-15.23%
Cappuccino
$4.52LBP 404.6K
$4.12MX$70.0
9.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31LBP 206.4K
$1.40MX$23.74
65.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88LBP 78.9K
$0.91MX$15.48
-3.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.07LBP 453.3K
$3.21MX$54.4
57.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.90LBP 438.1K
$7.07MX$120
-30.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sidon
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93LBP 172.3K
$1.68MX$28.44
14.88%
White Bread(500g)
$0.90LBP 80.1K
$2.15MX$36.48
-58.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16LBP 193.2K
$1.77MX$30.10
22.03%
Eggs
$3.62LBP 323.9K
$2.82MX$47.76
28.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.64LBP 1.2M
$9.20MX$156
48.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.58LBP 946.8K
$9.23MX$157
14.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.44LBP 1.3M
$12.64MX$214
14.24%
Apples(1kg)
$3.05LBP 272.6K
$2.95MX$50.1
3.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70LBP 152.3K
$1.58MX$26.79
7.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.66LBP 148.7K
$2.22MX$37.70
-25.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.47LBP 131.6K
$2.36MX$40.09
-37.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.36LBP 122.1K
$1.99MX$33.81
-31.66%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63LBP 146.2K
$1.98MX$33.58
-17.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16LBP 104.1K
$1.24MX$21.04
-6.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68LBP 61.1K
$1.21MX$20.55
-43.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97LBP 265.5K
$4.60MX$78.1
-35.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.83LBP 879.8K
$10.52MX$178
-6.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31LBP 117.6K
$1.69MX$28.70
-22.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50LBP 223.9K
$2.77MX$47.06
-9.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Sidon
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.60MX$10.22
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.70MX$504
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.88LBP 436.7K
$5.24MX$88.8
-6.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.28LBP 203.8K
$3.65MX$61.9
-37.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.14LBP 2.0M
$5.78MX$98.1
283.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.05LBP 93.9K
$1.54MX$26.09
-31.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$54.0KLBP 4.8B
$22.8KMX$386.8K
136.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KLBP 2.9B
$25.8KMX$437.9K
24.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sidon
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$229LBP 20.5M
$90.7MX$1,538
152.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.89LBP 2.1M
$25.19MX$427
-5.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.37LBP 3.4M
$31.75MX$539
20.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sidon
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$68.8MX$1,167
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.37MX$498
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.02LBP 896.8K
$4.86MX$82.5
106.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sidon
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$688LBP 61.6M
$226MX$3,828
204.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.6KLBP 945.4M
$4,194MX$71.1K
151.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sidon
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.9LBP 6.0M
$47.38MX$804
41.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.65LBP 4.4M
$43.45MX$737
11.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$140LBP 12.5M
$80.2MX$1,361
74.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121LBP 10.8M
$91.4MX$1,550
32.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sidon
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,086MX$18.4K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$409MX$6,933
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,972MX$33.5K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,281MX$21.7K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,046MX$68.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,704MX$113.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sidon
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$773MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11
11.45
-3.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sidon: September 6, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $64.0 in Sidon versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $279 vs $278 – making Playa del Carmen 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
Sidon vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Sidon?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. 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 $1,500 per month in Sidon and $1,958 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Sidon and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,000 in Sidon and $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $688 per month in Sidon and $226 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Sidon or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sidon, where all-in costs run around $1,000, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Sidon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sidon or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sidon – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Sidon. 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.