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 $1,105 per month in Sur vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,581 per month in Sur vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,056 per month in Sur vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Sur is about 15% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.86 OMR 1.49

$11.73 MX$203

-67.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.74 OMR 9.91

$41.62 MX$719

-38.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.74 OMR 2.98

$10.64 MX$184

-27.26%

Cappuccino

$4.85 OMR 1.87

$3.52 MX$60.8

37.78%

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

$0.72 OMR 0.28

$1.51 MX$26.09

-52.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

$0.97 MX$16.82

-72.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.16 OMR 4.68

$2.95 MX$51.0

312.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.80 OMR 4.54

$4.45 MX$77.0

165.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 OMR 0.61

$1.38 MX$23.90

14.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 OMR 0.47

$1.89 MX$32.69

-35.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 OMR 0.67

$1.64 MX$28.29

6.10%

Eggs

$2.03 OMR 0.78

$2.51 MX$43.30

-19.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.82 OMR 1.47

$8.34 MX$144

-54.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.04 OMR 1.94

$8.34 MX$144

-39.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.29 OMR 3.19

$10.73 MX$185

-22.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 OMR 0.91

$2.60 MX$45.00

-8.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 OMR 0.51

$1.46 MX$25.18

-9.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 OMR 0.41

$1.90 MX$32.84

-44.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 OMR 0.29

$2.08 MX$35.88

-63.94%

Potato (1kg)

$0.77 OMR 0.29

$1.78 MX$30.68

-56.74%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 OMR 0.21

$2.19 MX$37.76

-75.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 OMR 0.40

$1.04 MX$17.97

-0.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 OMR 0.21

$1.08 MX$18.60

-50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.36 OMR 2.45

$4.08 MX$70.5

55.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.81 OMR 6.09

$10.32 MX$178

53.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.32 OMR 1.66

$1.71 MX$29.59

152.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.90 OMR 3.04

$2.58 MX$44.50

206.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$457

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 OMR 1.22

$3.26 MX$56.4

-3.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 OMR 0.31

$2.49 MX$43.05

-67.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.55 OMR 4.06

$3.25 MX$56.1

224.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 OMR 0.22

$1.31 MX$22.59

-55.73%

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

$23.3K OMR 8,953

$30.3K MX$523.2K

-23.20%

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

$21.4K OMR 8,231

$23.4K MX$404.9K

-8.75%

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

$79.8 OMR 30.73

$82.9 MX$1,432

-3.68%

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

$23.22 OMR 8.94

$22.22 MX$384

4.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.3 OMR 27.05

$29.34 MX$507

139.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$86.1 OMR 33.13

$51.6 MX$892

66.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$10.47 OMR 4.03

$5.07 MX$87.5

106.51%

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

$195 OMR 75.0

$201 MX$3,470

-3.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,463 OMR 2,488

$5,212 MX$90.1K

24.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.0 OMR 19.63

$36.92 MX$638

38.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.75 OMR 15.30

$39.79 MX$688

-0.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.1 OMR 30.05

$78.5 MX$1,356

-0.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.6 OMR 33.73

$87.1 MX$1,505

0.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$258 OMR 99.2

$973 MX$16.8K

-73.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 OMR 102

$468 MX$8,082

-43.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$468 OMR 180

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-71.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$391 OMR 150

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-68.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$571 OMR 220

$3,946 MX$68.2K

-85.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$522 OMR 201

$6,498 MX$112.3K

-91.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,659 OMR 1,024

$664 MX$11.5K

300.55%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $258 in Sur 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 301% 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: $215 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 17%, 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 $1,658 per month in Sur 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 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 $1,105 in Sur and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $195 per month in Sur and $201 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 $1,105, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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.