Cost of Living Comparison Between Suffolk, VA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Suffolk, VA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,057 per month in Suffolk, VA vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,082 per month in Suffolk, VA vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,107 per month in Suffolk, VA vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Suffolk, VA costs about 62% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Suffolk, VA sits 53% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.59 $22.59

$11.87 MX$204

90.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.3 $79.3

$42.90 MX$736

84.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.04 $12.04

$10.65 MX$183

13.05%

Cappuccino

$5.06 $5.06

$3.45 MX$59.2

46.67%

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

$2.02 $2.02

$1.50 MX$25.81

34.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$0.95 MX$16.28

109.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.96 $3.96

$3.03 MX$51.9

30.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.61 MX$79.1

7.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.38 MX$23.61

-21.74%

White Bread (500g)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.85 MX$31.70

26.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.61 MX$27.65

65.84%

Eggs

$4.04 $4.04

$2.59 MX$44.51

55.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.28 $3.28

$8.26 MX$142

-60.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.99 $4.99

$8.37 MX$144

-40.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.66 MX$183

42.50%

Apples (1kg)

$4.29 $4.29

$2.63 MX$45.12

63.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.49 MX$25.53

11.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$1.92 MX$32.94

61.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.29 $4.29

$2.09 MX$35.81

105.26%

Potato (1kg)

$3.61 $3.61

$1.86 MX$31.88

94.09%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.26 MX$38.81

44.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.06 MX$18.23

55.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.09 MX$18.67

79.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.08 $5.08

$4.15 MX$71.2

22.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$10.39 MX$178

42.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.72 MX$29.59

-1.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.61 MX$44.85

45.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.54 MX$9.30

277.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.94 MX$462

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.02 $2.02

$3.13 MX$53.7

-35.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$2.51 MX$43.09

-45.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.54 $29.54

$3.15 MX$54.1

837.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.27 MX$21.88

-34.65%

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

$10.9K $10.9K

$30.4K MX$521.3K

-64.04%

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

$14.9K $14.9K

$23.6K MX$404.5K

-36.80%

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

$151 $151

$83.0 MX$1,425

81.36%

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

$53.0 $53.0

$22.71 MX$390

133.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.5 $67.5

$29.46 MX$506

129.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.60 $42.60

$51.0 MX$875

-16.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.33 MX$315

Cinema Ticket

$13.26 $13.26

$4.93 MX$84.5

168.97%

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

$858 $858

$197 MX$3,386

334.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.9K $23.9K

$5,280 MX$90.6K

351.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.91 $19.91

$36.90 MX$633

-46.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.00 $48.00

$39.89 MX$685

20.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$80.0 MX$1,373

26.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.03 $40.03

$89.5 MX$1,536

-55.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,107 $1,107

$956 MX$16.4K

15.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$984 $984

$477 MX$8,189

106.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,011 $2,011

$1,646 MX$28.3K

22.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,682 $1,682

$1,225 MX$21.0K

37.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,918 MX$67.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,459 MX$110.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,353 $4,353

$667 MX$11.4K

552.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.68

11.42

-50.26%

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

Last update for Suffolk, VA: June 8, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,107 in Suffolk, VA 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 553% higher in Suffolk, VA, 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 $79.0 in Suffolk, VA versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $250 – making Playa del Carmen 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

Suffolk, VA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Suffolk, VA is pricier by about 62%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,085 per month in Suffolk, VA and $1,906 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,057 in Suffolk, VA and $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $858 per month in Suffolk, VA and $197 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,271, than in Suffolk, VA at $2,057. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Suffolk, VA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – 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 Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Suffolk, VA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.