Cost of Living Comparison Between Surfers Paradise and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Surfers Paradise and Playa del Carmen

😐 Solo nomad: Surfers Paradise is 36.4% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 49.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Surfers Paradise is 74% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 46.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surfers Paradise
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.08 A$22.35
$11.61 MX$200
38.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$95.6 A$133
$42.75 MX$738
123.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.48 A$13.18
$10.60 MX$183
-10.57%
Cappuccino
$3.68 A$5.11
$3.59 MX$62.0
2.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 A$3.75
$1.45 MX$25.08
86.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 A$3.10
$0.90 MX$15.50
147.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.61 A$9.19
$3.03 MX$52.4
118.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.89 A$10.97
$4.56 MX$78.8
73.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surfers Paradise
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 A$2.26
$1.45 MX$25.07
11.72%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 A$3.06
$1.83 MX$31.55
20.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 A$3.11
$1.61 MX$27.77
39.13%
Eggs
$4.46 A$6.20
$2.54 MX$43.82
75.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 A$11.57
$8.54 MX$148
-2.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.48 A$11.79
$8.47 MX$146
0.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.29 A$18.47
$10.86 MX$188
22.38%
Apples (1kg)
$3.54 A$4.92
$2.73 MX$47.13
29.67%
Banana (1kg)
$2.84 A$3.95
$1.49 MX$25.77
90.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.52 A$4.90
$1.94 MX$33.55
81.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.87 A$5.38
$2.16 MX$37.38
79.17%
Potato (1kg)
$2.45 A$3.41
$1.85 MX$31.88
32.43%
Onion (1kg)
$2.36 A$3.29
$2.19 MX$37.80
7.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.13 A$2.95
$1.07 MX$18.52
99.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 A$1.82
$1.08 MX$18.71
21.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$31.45 A$43.71
$4.06 MX$70.1
674.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.94 A$19.38
$10.46 MX$181
33.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$6.27 A$8.72
$1.65 MX$28.56
280.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13 A$5.74
$2.55 MX$44.01
61.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Surfers Paradise
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.17 A$3.02
$0.56 MX$9.60
287.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$32.10 A$44.63
$26.20 MX$453
22.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.07 A$2.87
$3.14 MX$54.2
-34.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 A$1.93
$2.37 MX$40.96
-41.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.37 A$46.38
$3.24 MX$56.0
929.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 A$1.67
$1.31 MX$22.70
-8.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K A$39.8K
$30.5K MX$527.4K
-6.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9K A$30.4K
$23.8K MX$411.4K
-8.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surfers Paradise
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$207 A$288
$83.1 MX$1,436
149.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.56 A$42.48
$22.15 MX$383
37.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.7 A$76.1
$29.37 MX$507
86.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surfers Paradise
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$63.2 A$87.8
$51.2 MX$884
23.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.73 A$19.08
$18.69 MX$323
-26.54%
Cinema Ticket
$13.23 A$18.39
$4.89 MX$84.4
170.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surfers Paradise
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,648 A$2,290
$199 MX$3,431
729.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,803 A$12.2K
$5,207 MX$89.9K
69.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surfers Paradise
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.6 A$101
$35.93 MX$621
101.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.29 A$65.7
$39.39 MX$680
20.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.5 A$129
$80.3 MX$1,387
15.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 A$139
$87.6 MX$1,512
14.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surfers Paradise
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,282 A$1,782
$963 MX$16.6K
33.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$712 A$990
$482 MX$8,326
47.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,413 A$3,354
$1,645 MX$28.4K
46.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,772 A$2,463
$1,192 MX$20.6K
48.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,028 A$8,379
$3,957 MX$68.3K
52.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,964 A$6,900
$6,513 MX$112.5K
-23.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surfers Paradise
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,389 A$4,710
$726 MX$12.5K
366.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.3
11.42
-44.83%

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

Last update for Surfers Paradise: April 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 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

Surfers Paradise vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities