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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $816 per month in Sucre vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,232 per month in Sucre vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,649 per month in Sucre vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Sucre is about 37% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sucre and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Sucre 39% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sucre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.78 BOB 12.35
$11.94 MX$209
-85.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.44 BOB 99.9
$42.75 MX$748
-66.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.86 BOB 40.56
$10.59 MX$185
-44.66%
Cappuccino
$2.40 BOB 16.62
$3.62 MX$63.4
-33.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 BOB 4.25
$1.47 MX$25.69
-58.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 BOB 3.89
$0.94 MX$16.51
-40.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.38 BOB 9.54
$3.09 MX$54.1
-55.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 BOB 14.90
$4.46 MX$78.0
-51.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sucre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.90 BOB 6.20
$1.43 MX$24.94
-37.06%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 BOB 9.91
$1.88 MX$32.97
-23.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 BOB 8.32
$1.63 MX$28.50
-26.38%
Eggs
$1.68 BOB 11.64
$2.64 MX$46.26
-36.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.48 BOB 30.99
$8.21 MX$144
-45.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.04 BOB 21.06
$8.29 MX$145
-63.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.22 BOB 29.22
$11.10 MX$194
-61.98%
Apples (1kg)
$1.82 BOB 12.56
$2.65 MX$46.40
-31.32%
Banana (1kg)
$0.89 BOB 6.16
$1.50 MX$26.26
-40.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.70 BOB 4.87
$1.99 MX$34.79
-64.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.89 BOB 20.02
$2.08 MX$36.33
38.94%
Potato (1kg)
$0.45 BOB 3.10
$1.79 MX$31.29
-74.86%
Onion (1kg)
$0.74 BOB 5.13
$2.18 MX$38.09
-66.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.30 BOB 2.11
$1.08 MX$18.84
-72.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 BOB 6.86
$1.04 MX$18.15
-4.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.92 BOB 13.28
$3.97 MX$69.5
-51.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 BOB 71.4
$10.20 MX$179
1.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 BOB 12.08
$1.73 MX$30.22
1.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.50 MX$43.71
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sucre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 BOB 1.91
$0.52 MX$9.07
-46.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.93 BOB 159
$26.97 MX$472
-14.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.70 BOB 4.86
$3.14 MX$55.0
-77.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.40 MX$42.04
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.09 MX$54.0
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 BOB 7.01
$1.27 MX$22.28
-20.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.7K BOB 101.4K
$30.9K MX$540.4K
-52.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.7K BOB 122.1K
$23.3K MX$408.0K
-24.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sucre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$14.40 BOB 99.7
$82.0 MX$1,435
-82.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.91 BOB 145
$22.45 MX$393
-6.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.67 BOB 178
$29.66 MX$519
-13.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sucre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.81 BOB 158
$51.9 MX$908
-56.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.45 BOB 79.3
$18.67 MX$327
-38.67%
Cinema Ticket
$6.37 BOB 44.09
$4.97 MX$87.0
28.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sucre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$198 MX$3,462
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$5,273 MX$92.3K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sucre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.08 BOB 250
$36.34 MX$636
-0.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$40.05 MX$701
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.8 BOB 490
$79.9 MX$1,398
-11.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.4 BOB 452
$88.9 MX$1,555
-26.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sucre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$638 BOB 4,413
$963 MX$16.9K
-33.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 BOB 2,625
$465 MX$8,133
-18.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,066 BOB 7,375
$1,596 MX$27.9K
-33.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$679 BOB 4,695
$1,209 MX$21.2K
-43.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$876 BOB 6,062
$3,942 MX$69.0K
-77.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$588 BOB 4,066
$6,448 MX$112.8K
-90.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sucre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$365 BOB 2,528
$720 MX$12.6K
-49.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
11.42
-

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

Last update for Sucre: April 25, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $638 in Sucre versus $963 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 97% 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 $14.00 in Sucre versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $153 vs $251 – making Sucre 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
Sucre vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Sucre?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 58%, 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 $1,224 per month in Sucre and $1,930 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 Sucre, 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 Sucre vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $816 in Sucre and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is eating out cheaper in Sucre or Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Sucre and $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Sucre or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sucre, where all-in costs run around $816, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Sucre it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sucre or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sucre – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Sucre 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 Sucre. 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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