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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,103 per month in Sur vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Sur vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,050 per month in Sur vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Sur is about 12% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Sur and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Sur 17% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.95 OMR 1.52

$11.99 MX$209

-67.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.63 OMR 9.87

$41.78 MX$727

-38.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.76 OMR 2.99

$10.75 MX$187

-27.81%

Cappuccino

$4.82 OMR 1.85

$3.50 MX$60.8

37.71%

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

$0.72 OMR 0.28

$1.45 MX$25.21

-50.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

$0.88 MX$15.40

-69.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.51 OMR 4.82

$2.95 MX$51.3

324.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.86 OMR 4.56

$4.51 MX$78.5

162.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 OMR 0.61

$1.43 MX$24.92

11.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 OMR 0.47

$1.84 MX$31.98

-33.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 OMR 0.64

$1.57 MX$27.30

6.37%

Eggs

$2.00 OMR 0.77

$2.51 MX$43.72

-20.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.84 OMR 1.48

$8.28 MX$144

-53.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.91 OMR 1.89

$8.43 MX$147

-41.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.60 OMR 3.31

$10.68 MX$186

-19.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 OMR 0.91

$2.61 MX$45.40

-9.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

$1.44 MX$25.03

-11.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 OMR 0.41

$1.96 MX$34.15

-45.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 OMR 0.31

$2.09 MX$36.45

-61.24%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 OMR 0.31

$1.85 MX$32.22

-55.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 OMR 0.19

$2.17 MX$37.72

-76.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 OMR 0.42

$1.03 MX$17.95

4.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 OMR 0.19

$1.07 MX$18.69

-52.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.23 OMR 2.40

$4.10 MX$71.4

51.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.90 OMR 6.12

$10.17 MX$177

56.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 OMR 1.68

$1.68 MX$29.15

159.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.01 OMR 3.08

$2.53 MX$43.96

216.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.86

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 OMR 1.21

$3.23 MX$56.3

-2.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 OMR 0.29

$2.41 MX$41.86

-68.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.25 OMR 3.95

$3.23 MX$56.2

217.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 OMR 0.20

$1.32 MX$22.99

-59.85%

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

$22.5K OMR 8,655

$29.7K MX$516.8K

-24.28%

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

$21.8K OMR 8,409

$23.7K MX$411.8K

-7.67%

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

$79.0 OMR 30.40

$82.0 MX$1,427

-3.69%

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

$23.13 OMR 8.90

$22.95 MX$399

0.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.0 OMR 26.95

$30.11 MX$524

132.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$85.9 OMR 33.07

$52.0 MX$904

65.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$322

Cinema Ticket

$10.25 OMR 3.95

$4.98 MX$86.6

105.82%

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

$192 OMR 73.8

$197 MX$3,436

-2.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,388 OMR 2,459

$5,336 MX$92.9K

19.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.2 OMR 19.71

$35.60 MX$619

43.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.04 OMR 15.03

$40.33 MX$702

-3.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.4 OMR 30.18

$78.8 MX$1,370

-0.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.7 OMR 33.74

$88.9 MX$1,548

-1.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$258 OMR 99.5

$947 MX$16.5K

-72.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 OMR 102

$474 MX$8,249

-44.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$470 OMR 181

$1,644 MX$28.6K

-71.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 OMR 148

$1,211 MX$21.1K

-68.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$565 OMR 218

$4,056 MX$70.6K

-86.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$525 OMR 202

$6,470 MX$112.6K

-91.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,657 OMR 1,023

$654 MX$11.4K

306.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.15

11.42

-54.90%

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

Last update for Sur: July 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $258 in Sur 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 306% higher in Sur, 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 $26.00 in Sur versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $216 vs $249 – making Sur 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 14%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,655 per month in Sur 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 Sur, 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 $1,103 in Sur and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $192 per month in Sur 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 Sur, where all-in costs run around $1,103, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Sur it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sur – 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 Sur. 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.