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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $400 per month in Soroca vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $653 per month in Soroca vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $905 per month in Soroca vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Soroca is about 69% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Soroca and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Soroca 71% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.40 MDL 196

$11.96 MX$203

-4.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.28 MDL 399

$47.38 MX$804

-50.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.76 MDL 81.7

$11.75 MX$199

-59.49%

Cappuccino

$1.49 MDL 25.57

$4.12 MX$70.0

-63.83%

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

$0.72 MDL 12.31

$1.40 MX$23.74

-48.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 MDL 8.17

$0.91 MX$15.48

-47.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 MDL 19.60

$3.21 MX$54.4

-64.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 MDL 25.14

$7.07 MX$120

-79.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 MDL 18.18

$1.68 MX$28.44

-36.90%

White Bread (500g)

$0.37 MDL 6.29

$2.15 MX$36.48

-82.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 MDL 20.43

$1.77 MX$30.10

-32.77%

Eggs

$2.03 MDL 34.76

$2.82 MX$47.76

-28.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.20 MX$156

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.23 MX$157

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.64 MX$214

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$50.1

Banana (1kg)

$2.05 MDL 35.13

$1.58 MX$26.79

29.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 MX$37.70

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.09

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 MDL 10.98

$1.99 MX$33.81

-67.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 MX$33.58

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 MX$21.04

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MDL 9.19

$1.21 MX$20.55

-55.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.60 MX$78.1

Wine (Bottle)

$10.52 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 MX$28.70

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 MX$47.06

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.22

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 MDL 20.28

$5.24 MX$88.8

-77.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.65 MX$61.9

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 MX$98.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 MDL 28.00

$1.54 MX$26.09

5.84%

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

$22.8K MX$386.8K

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

$20.8K MDL 357.8K

$25.8K MX$437.9K

-19.23%

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

$62.0 MDL 1,063

$90.7 MX$1,538

-31.66%

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

$8.68 MDL 149

$25.19 MX$427

-65.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.53 MDL 232

$31.75 MX$539

-57.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.71 MDL 493

$68.8 MX$1,167

-58.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$3.40 MDL 58.3

$4.86 MX$82.5

-30.04%

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

$226 MX$3,828

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,194 MX$71.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.45 MDL 591

$47.38 MX$804

-27.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.57 MDL 593

$43.45 MX$737

-20.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 MDL 1,863

$80.2 MX$1,361

35.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$34.91 MDL 599

$91.4 MX$1,550

-61.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 MX$18.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 MX$6,933

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,972 MX$33.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 MX$21.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$514 MDL 8,825

$773 MX$13.1K

-33.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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

Last update for Soroca: September 5, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 50% 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 Soroca versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $48.00 vs $278 – making Soroca 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 226%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $600 per month in Soroca and $1,958 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 481% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Soroca and $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Soroca, where all-in costs run around $400, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Soroca it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Soroca – 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 Soroca. 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.