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 $1,111 per month in Sunny Beach vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,671 per month in Sunny Beach vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,230 per month in Sunny Beach vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Sunny Beach is about 12% 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 17% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.10 BGN 13.47

$11.99 MX$210

-32.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.93 BGN 69.8

$41.78 MX$733

0.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.02 BGN 16.67

$10.75 MX$189

-6.79%

Cappuccino

$1.90 BGN 3.16

$3.50 MX$61.3

-45.71%

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

$1.32 BGN 2.20

$1.45 MX$25.41

-8.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 BGN 1.75

$0.88 MX$15.52

19.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 BGN 2.99

$2.95 MX$51.7

-38.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 BGN 3.03

$4.51 MX$79.1

-59.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.04 BGN 3.39

$1.43 MX$25.12

42.66%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 BGN 1.03

$1.84 MX$32.23

-66.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.76 BGN 4.60

$1.57 MX$27.51

75.80%

Eggs

$3.92 BGN 6.52

$2.51 MX$44.06

56.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.00 BGN 21.62

$8.28 MX$145

57.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.33 BGN 13.86

$8.43 MX$148

-1.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.74 BGN 21.19

$10.68 MX$187

19.29%

Apples (1kg)

$1.60 BGN 2.66

$2.61 MX$45.76

-38.70%

Banana (1kg)

$2.20 BGN 3.65

$1.44 MX$25.22

52.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 BGN 2.91

$1.96 MX$34.41

-10.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.74 BGN 4.56

$2.09 MX$36.74

31.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 BGN 1.98

$1.85 MX$32.47

-35.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 BGN 2.26

$2.17 MX$38.02

-37.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 BGN 2.04

$1.03 MX$18.09

18.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 BGN 1.32

$1.07 MX$18.84

-26.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.70 BGN 6.15

$4.10 MX$72.0

-9.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.96 BGN 9.91

$10.17 MX$178

-41.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 BGN 1.98

$1.68 MX$29.38

-29.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 BGN 2.82

$2.53 MX$44.31

-32.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.20 BGN 1.99

$0.51 MX$8.93

135.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.06 BGN 45.01

$26.04 MX$457

3.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 BGN 1.93

$3.23 MX$56.7

-64.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 BGN 1.01

$2.41 MX$42.19

-74.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.03 BGN 20.01

$3.23 MX$56.6

272.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 BGN 2.47

$1.32 MX$23.17

12.12%

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

$37.5K BGN 62.3K

$29.7K MX$520.9K

26.17%

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

$34.5K BGN 57.4K

$23.7K MX$415.0K

45.78%

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

$117 BGN 195

$82.0 MX$1,439

43.07%

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

$17.33 BGN 28.84

$22.95 MX$403

-24.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.38 BGN 22.26

$30.11 MX$528

-55.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.54 BGN 49.14

$52.0 MX$912

-43.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.59 BGN 24.27

$18.53 MX$325

-21.26%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 BGN 11.44

$4.98 MX$87.3

38.15%

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

$328 BGN 545

$197 MX$3,463

65.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,492 BGN 9,136

$5,336 MX$93.6K

2.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.40 BGN 57.2

$35.60 MX$624

-3.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.72 BGN 49.43

$40.33 MX$707

-26.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 BGN 209

$78.8 MX$1,381

59.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 BGN 130

$88.9 MX$1,560

-12.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$598 BGN 995

$947 MX$16.6K

-36.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$361 BGN 600

$474 MX$8,314

-23.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$701 BGN 1,166

$1,644 MX$28.8K

-57.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$537 BGN 893

$1,211 MX$21.2K

-55.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,367 BGN 2,275

$4,056 MX$71.1K

-66.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,129 BGN 1,878

$6,470 MX$113.5K

-82.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$939 BGN 1,563

$654 MX$11.5K

43.66%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $598 in Sunny Beach versus $947 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 $42.00 in Sunny Beach versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $256 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 13%, 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 $1,666 per month in Sunny Beach and $1,884 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 $1,111 in Sunny Beach and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 4% 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 $1,111, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. 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.