Cost of Living Comparison Between Sunny Beach and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Sunny Beach and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,094 per month in Sunny Beach vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,685 per month in Sunny Beach vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,276 per month in Sunny Beach vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Sunny Beach is about 16% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sunny Beach and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Sunny Beach 18% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.07 BGN 13.42

$11.73 MX$203

-31.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.91 BGN 68.1

$41.62 MX$720

-1.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.97 BGN 16.58

$10.64 MX$184

-6.30%

Cappuccino

$1.97 BGN 3.27

$3.52 MX$60.9

-44.03%

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

$1.30 BGN 2.17

$1.51 MX$26.12

-13.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 BGN 1.74

$0.97 MX$16.84

8.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 BGN 2.99

$2.95 MX$51.0

-38.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 BGN 2.88

$4.45 MX$77.0

-61.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 BGN 3.26

$1.38 MX$23.93

42.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 BGN 0.95

$1.89 MX$32.72

-69.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.78 BGN 4.63

$1.64 MX$28.32

69.51%

Eggs

$3.89 BGN 6.47

$2.51 MX$43.34

54.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.17 BGN 21.91

$8.34 MX$144

57.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.20 BGN 13.63

$8.34 MX$144

-1.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.74 BGN 21.19

$10.73 MX$186

18.73%

Apples (1kg)

$1.66 BGN 2.77

$2.60 MX$45.04

-36.15%

Banana (1kg)

$2.18 BGN 3.62

$1.46 MX$25.20

49.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.74 BGN 2.89

$1.90 MX$32.87

-8.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.88 BGN 4.79

$2.08 MX$35.91

38.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 BGN 1.94

$1.78 MX$30.71

-34.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 BGN 2.39

$2.19 MX$37.80

-34.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 BGN 2.03

$1.04 MX$17.99

17.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 BGN 1.20

$1.08 MX$18.62

-33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.73 BGN 6.20

$4.08 MX$70.6

-8.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.94 BGN 9.88

$10.32 MX$178

-42.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 BGN 1.91

$1.71 MX$29.61

-32.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 BGN 2.81

$2.58 MX$44.54

-34.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.15 BGN 1.92

$0.51 MX$8.81

125.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.89 BGN 44.73

$26.46 MX$458

1.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 BGN 1.94

$3.26 MX$56.4

-64.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 BGN 1.08

$2.49 MX$43.09

-73.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.61 BGN 19.31

$3.25 MX$56.2

257.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 BGN 2.55

$1.31 MX$22.61

17.56%

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

$37.3K BGN 62.0K

$30.3K MX$523.7K

23.07%

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

$34.9K BGN 58.0K

$23.4K MX$405.3K

48.78%

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

$121 BGN 201

$82.9 MX$1,433

45.94%

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

$17.44 BGN 29.01

$22.22 MX$384

-21.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.50 BGN 22.46

$29.34 MX$507

-53.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.54 BGN 49.15

$51.6 MX$893

-42.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.91 BGN 24.80

$18.32 MX$317

-18.61%

Cinema Ticket

$7.20 BGN 11.98

$5.07 MX$87.6

42.01%

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

$327 BGN 545

$201 MX$3,473

63.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,399 BGN 8,982

$5,212 MX$90.1K

3.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.17 BGN 58.5

$36.92 MX$639

-4.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.93 BGN 48.12

$39.79 MX$688

-27.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 BGN 209

$78.5 MX$1,357

60.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.2 BGN 130

$87.1 MX$1,506

-10.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$595 BGN 989

$973 MX$16.8K

-38.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 BGN 582

$468 MX$8,090

-25.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$719 BGN 1,196

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-56.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$539 BGN 897

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-55.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,394 BGN 2,320

$3,946 MX$68.3K

-64.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,168 BGN 1,944

$6,498 MX$112.4K

-82.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$954 BGN 1,586

$664 MX$11.5K

43.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.1

11.42

-55.34%

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

Last update for Sunny Beach: May 30, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $595 in Sunny Beach versus $973 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 44% higher in Sunny Beach, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Sunny Beach versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $254 in Sunny Beach 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 19%, 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 $1,641 per month in Sunny Beach and $1,945 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 Sunny Beach, 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 $1,094 in Sunny Beach and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 2% less in Sunny Beach. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sunny Beach, where all-in costs run around $1,094, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Sunny Beach it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sunny Beach – 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 Sunny Beach. 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.