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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $791 per month in Sousse vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,259 per month in Sousse vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,728 per month in Sousse vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Sousse is about 39% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sousse and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Sousse 42% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sousse
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.69 TND 13.56
$11.71 MX$198
-59.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.29 TND 70.3
$46.59 MX$788
-47.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.19 TND 17.90
$11.65 MX$197
-46.87%
Cappuccino
$1.06 TND 3.07
$4.09 MX$69.2
-74.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 TND 2.23
$1.37 MX$23.23
-43.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 TND 1.05
$0.83 MX$14.09
-56.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.74 TND 5.03
$3.35 MX$56.7
-48.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 TND 4.90
$6.91 MX$117
-75.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sousse
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.48 TND 1.40
$1.73 MX$29.20
-72.25%
White Bread (500g)
$0.15 TND 0.43
$2.26 MX$38.21
-93.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.30 TND 3.76
$1.77 MX$29.91
-26.55%
Eggs
$1.64 TND 4.75
$2.73 MX$46.19
-39.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.02 TND 40.54
$9.18 MX$155
52.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 TND 16.77
$8.92 MX$151
-34.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.39 TND 41.61
$12.60 MX$213
14.21%
Apples (1kg)
$1.92 TND 5.55
$3.02 MX$51.1
-36.42%
Banana (1kg)
$3.84 TND 11.09
$1.57 MX$26.55
144.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.08 TND 3.13
$2.13 MX$35.93
-49.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.78 TND 2.24
$2.26 MX$38.28
-65.49%
Potato (1kg)
$0.89 TND 2.57
$2.00 MX$33.88
-55.50%
Onion (1kg)
$0.75 TND 2.17
$2.06 MX$34.90
-63.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.43 TND 1.25
$1.18 MX$19.94
-63.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33 TND 0.96
$1.20 MX$20.35
-72.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.73 TND 10.78
$4.63 MX$78.4
-19.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.17 TND 14.96
$10.69 MX$181
-51.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 TND 2.88
$1.62 MX$27.38
-38.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19 TND 3.44
$2.88 MX$48.70
-58.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Sousse
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 TND 1.02
$0.57 MX$9.69
-38.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.17 TND 29.42
$29.83 MX$504
-65.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.31 TND 0.91
$5.45 MX$92.1
-94.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.66 TND 1.91
$3.70 MX$62.6
-82.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.03 TND 11.64
$5.98 MX$101
-32.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 TND 2.45
$1.55 MX$26.26
-45.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.2K TND 116.4K
$22.3K MX$377.4K
80.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.7K TND 109.0K
$25.9K MX$438.7K
45.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sousse
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.2 TND 223
$89.1 MX$1,507
-13.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.94 TND 37.43
$25.04 MX$423
-48.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.80 TND 51.5
$31.50 MX$532
-43.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sousse
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.44 TND 85.1
$67.8 MX$1,146
-56.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.74 TND 80.2
$28.92 MX$489
-4.08%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 TND 19.22
$5.05 MX$85.4
31.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sousse
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$98.3 TND 284
$225 MX$3,803
-56.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,033 TND 8,773
$4,222 MX$71.4K
-28.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sousse
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.89 TND 136
$47.44 MX$802
-1.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.3 TND 192
$44.98 MX$760
47.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$154 TND 446
$82.0 MX$1,386
88.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 TND 310
$92.1 MX$1,557
16.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sousse
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$247 TND 713
$1,069 MX$18.1K
-76.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$167 TND 484
$405 MX$6,852
-58.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$535 TND 1,546
$1,935 MX$32.7K
-72.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$349 TND 1,010
$1,301 MX$22.0K
-73.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$997 TND 2,883
$3,995 MX$67.5K
-75.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$641 TND 1,853
$6,626 MX$112.0K
-90.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sousse
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$398 TND 1,151
$749 MX$12.7K
-46.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12
11.45
4.80%

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

Last update for Sousse: August 30, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $247 in Sousse versus $1,069 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 88% 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 $24.00 in Sousse versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $201 vs $277 – making Sousse 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
Sousse vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Sousse?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 64%, 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 $1,186 per month in Sousse and $1,940 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 Sousse, 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 Sousse and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $791 in Sousse and $1,293 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 193% less in Sousse. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Sousse or in Playa del Carmen?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sousse, where all-in costs run around $791, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Sousse it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sousse or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sousse – 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 Sousse. 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.

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