🙂A single person spends $814 per month in Sucre vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,219 per month in Sucre vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,623 per month in Sucre vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Sucre is about 36% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Sucre and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Sucre39% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sucre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.77BOB 12.16
$11.87MX$204
-85.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.62BOB 100
$42.90MX$736
-65.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.95BOB 40.78
$10.65MX$183
-44.13%
Cappuccino
$2.40BOB 16.41
$3.45MX$59.2
-30.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62BOB 4.23
$1.50MX$25.81
-58.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60BOB 4.14
$0.95MX$16.28
-36.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.44BOB 9.89
$3.03MX$51.9
-52.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24BOB 15.32
$4.61MX$79.1
-51.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sucre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.84BOB 5.76
$1.38MX$23.61
-39.13%
White Bread(500g)
$1.41BOB 9.64
$1.85MX$31.70
-23.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.25BOB 8.55
$1.61MX$27.65
-22.36%
Eggs
$1.76BOB 12.07
$2.59MX$44.51
-32.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.43BOB 30.32
$8.26MX$142
-46.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.04BOB 20.82
$8.37MX$144
-63.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.32BOB 29.56
$10.66MX$183
-59.47%
Apples(1kg)
$1.82BOB 12.44
$2.63MX$45.12
-30.80%
Banana(1kg)
$0.82BOB 5.63
$1.49MX$25.53
-44.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.71BOB 4.86
$1.92MX$32.94
-63.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.94BOB 20.16
$2.09MX$35.81
40.67%
Potato(1kg)
$0.41BOB 2.81
$1.86MX$31.88
-77.96%
Onion(1kg)
$0.69BOB 4.71
$2.26MX$38.81
-69.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.30BOB 2.06
$1.06MX$18.23
-71.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00BOB 6.82
$1.09MX$18.67
-8.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.92BOB 13.15
$4.15MX$71.2
-53.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.12BOB 69.3
$10.39MX$178
-2.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71BOB 11.74
$1.72MX$29.59
-0.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.61MX$44.85
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sucre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30BOB 2.07
$0.54MX$9.30
-44.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.36BOB 160
$26.94MX$462
-13.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.69BOB 4.70
$3.13MX$53.7
-77.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.51MX$43.09
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.15MX$54.1
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01BOB 6.95
$1.27MX$21.88
-20.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.5KBOB 99.3K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
-52.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.3KBOB 118.2K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
-26.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sucre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$13.91BOB 95.3
$83.0MX$1,425
-83.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.82BOB 143
$22.71MX$390
-8.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.04BOB 178
$29.46MX$506
-11.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sucre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.96BOB 157
$51.0MX$875
-54.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.57BOB 79.3
$18.33MX$315
-36.88%
Cinema Ticket
$6.59BOB 45.17
$4.93MX$84.5
33.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sucre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$197MX$3,386
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,280MX$90.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sucre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.50BOB 243
$36.90MX$633
-3.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$39.89MX$685
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.9BOB 493
$80.0MX$1,373
-10.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.6BOB 450
$89.5MX$1,536
-26.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sucre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$650BOB 4,451
$956MX$16.4K
-32.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$380BOB 2,603
$477MX$8,189
-20.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,039BOB 7,117
$1,646MX$28.3K
-36.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$687BOB 4,705
$1,225MX$21.0K
-43.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$882BOB 6,045
$3,918MX$67.2K
-77.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$567BOB 3,881
$6,459MX$110.9K
-91.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sucre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$317BOB 2,174
$667MX$11.4K
-52.42%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $650 in Sucre versus $956 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 110% 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 $15.00 in Sucre versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $152 vs $250 – 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 56%, 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 $1,221 per month in Sucre and $1,906 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 $814 in Sucre and $1,271 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 $15.00 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 $814, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. 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.