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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $217 per month in Sumba vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $290 per month in Sumba vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $364 per month in Sumba vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Sumba is about 83% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sumba and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Sumba 84% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.71 MX$198

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.59 MX$788

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.65 MX$197

Cappuccino

$4.09 MX$69.2

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

$1.37 MX$23.23

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 MX$14.09

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.35 MX$56.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.91 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$2.31 FOK 14.87

$1.73 MX$29.20

33.53%

White Bread (500g)

$2.26 MX$38.21

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MX$29.91

Eggs

$2.73 MX$46.19

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.18 MX$155

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.92 MX$151

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.60 MX$213

Apples (1kg)

$3.02 MX$51.1

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 MX$26.55

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 MX$35.93

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.28

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 MX$33.88

Onion (1kg)

$2.06 MX$34.90

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 MX$19.94

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.35

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.84 FOK 69.9

$4.63 MX$78.4

134.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.17 FOK 78.5

$10.69 MX$181

13.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 FOK 15.49

$1.62 MX$27.38

48.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 FOK 11.87

$2.88 MX$48.70

-36.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.64 FOK 29.91

$0.57 MX$9.69

714.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.83 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 MX$92.1

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.70 MX$62.6

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 MX$101

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.07 FOK 13.34

$1.55 MX$26.26

33.55%

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

$22.3K MX$377.4K

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

$25.9K MX$438.7K

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

$89.1 MX$1,507

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

$25.04 MX$423

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 FOK 396

$31.50 MX$532

94.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.73 FOK 250

$67.8 MX$1,146

-42.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.92 MX$489

Cinema Ticket

$15.64 FOK 101

$5.05 MX$85.4

209.70%

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

$225 MX$3,803

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,222 MX$71.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.44 MX$802

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.98 MX$760

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 MX$1,386

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.1 MX$1,557

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,069 MX$18.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 MX$6,852

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,935 MX$32.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,301 MX$22.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,995 MX$67.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,626 MX$112.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$749 MX$12.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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

Last update for Sumba: August 29, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

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

Sumba vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 496%, 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 $326 per month in Sumba and $1,940 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $217 in Sumba and $1,293 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 339% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sumba, where all-in costs run around $217, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Sumba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sumba – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Sumba. 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.