🙂A single person spends $740 per month in Suchitoto vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,187 per month in Suchitoto vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,633 per month in Suchitoto vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Suchitoto is about 43% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Suchitoto and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Suchitoto45% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Suchitoto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.99$7.99
$11.73MX$203
-31.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.96$34.96
$41.62MX$720
-16.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.13$7.13
$10.64MX$184
-32.99%
Cappuccino
$3.30$3.30
$3.52MX$60.9
-6.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09$1.09
$1.51MX$26.12
-27.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91$0.91
$0.97MX$16.84
-6.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.96$1.96
$2.95MX$51.0
-33.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92$2.92
$4.45MX$77.0
-34.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suchitoto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80$1.80
$1.38MX$23.93
30.43%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05$2.05
$1.89MX$32.72
8.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55$1.55
$1.64MX$28.32
-5.49%
Eggs
$2.81$2.81
$2.51MX$43.34
11.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.95$6.95
$8.34MX$144
-16.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.87$6.87
$8.34MX$144
-17.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.01$11.01
$10.73MX$186
2.61%
Apples(1kg)
$3.27$3.27
$2.60MX$45.04
25.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71$1.71
$1.46MX$25.20
17.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.56$2.56
$1.90MX$32.87
34.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.71$2.71
$2.08MX$35.91
30.29%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15$2.15
$1.78MX$30.71
20.79%
Onion(1kg)
$2.20$2.20
$2.19MX$37.80
0.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.95$0.95
$1.04MX$17.99
-8.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04$1.04
$1.08MX$18.62
-3.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.92$3.92
$4.08MX$70.6
-3.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.09$11.09
$10.32MX$178
7.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74$1.74
$1.71MX$29.61
1.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51$2.51
$2.58MX$44.54
-2.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Suchitoto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.51MX$8.81
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.46MX$458
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.62$5.62
$3.26MX$56.4
72.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.04$3.04
$2.49MX$43.09
22.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.34$20.34
$3.25MX$56.2
525.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.04$1.04
$1.31MX$22.61
-20.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3K$25.3K
$30.3KMX$523.7K
-16.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6K$28.6K
$23.4KMX$405.3K
22.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suchitoto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102$102
$82.9MX$1,433
23.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.40$19.40
$22.22MX$384
-12.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.28$41.28
$29.34MX$507
40.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suchitoto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$51.6MX$893
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.39$5.39
$5.07MX$87.6
6.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suchitoto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$144$144
$201MX$3,473
-28.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,831$5,831
$5,212MX$90.1K
11.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suchitoto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.8$66.8
$36.92MX$639
80.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.94$43.94
$39.79MX$688
10.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116$116
$78.5MX$1,357
47.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106$106
$87.1MX$1,506
21.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suchitoto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$973MX$16.8K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$468MX$8,090
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,641MX$28.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,221MX$21.1K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,946MX$68.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,498MX$112.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suchitoto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$664MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.58
11.42
-24.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Suchitoto: May 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Suchitoto versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $258 in Suchitoto vs $249 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Suchitoto vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Suchitoto?
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 $1,111 per month in Suchitoto and $1,945 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 Suchitoto vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $740 in Suchitoto 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 kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $144 per month in Suchitoto and $201 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 Suchitoto or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Suchitoto, where all-in costs run around $740, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Suchitoto it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Suchitoto or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Suchitoto – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Suchitoto 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 Suchitoto. 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.