Cost of Living Comparison Between Surprise, AZ and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Surprise, AZ and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,726 per month in Surprise, AZ vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,112 per month in Surprise, AZ vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,499 per month in Surprise, AZ vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Surprise, AZ costs about 112% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Surprise, AZ sits 104% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.28 $20.28

$11.94 MX$209

69.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.1 $81.1

$42.75 MX$748

89.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.01 $12.01

$10.59 MX$185

13.41%

Cappuccino

$5.34 $5.34

$3.62 MX$63.4

47.51%

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

$2.68 $2.68

$1.47 MX$25.69

82.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$0.94 MX$16.51

131.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.97 $5.97

$3.09 MX$54.1

93.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.06 $7.06

$4.46 MX$78.0

58.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.43 MX$24.94

-39.86%

White Bread (500g)

$3.85 $3.85

$1.88 MX$32.97

104.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.32 $5.32

$1.63 MX$28.50

226.38%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$2.64 MX$46.26

80.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.88 $11.88

$8.21 MX$144

44.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.93 $11.93

$8.29 MX$145

43.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.75 $14.75

$11.10 MX$194

32.88%

Apples (1kg)

$4.78 $4.78

$2.65 MX$46.40

80.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.50 MX$26.26

30.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.90 $3.90

$1.99 MX$34.79

95.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$2.08 MX$36.33

99.04%

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.79 MX$31.29

38.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.18 MX$38.09

12.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.08 MX$18.84

74.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.04 MX$18.15

127.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.66 $11.66

$3.97 MX$69.5

193.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.01 $15.01

$10.20 MX$179

47.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.73 MX$30.22

21.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.50 MX$43.71

56.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.92 $3.92

$0.52 MX$9.07

653.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.8 $79.8

$26.97 MX$472

195.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.14 MX$55.0

-10.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$2.40 MX$42.04

-42.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.43 $35.43

$3.09 MX$54.0

1046.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.27 MX$22.28

-23.62%

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

$30.9K $30.9K

$30.9K MX$540.4K

-0.04%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$23.3K MX$408.0K

11.36%

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

$259 $259

$82.0 MX$1,435

216.07%

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

$71.0 $71.0

$22.45 MX$393

216.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$80.9 $80.9

$29.66 MX$519

172.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.2 $61.2

$51.9 MX$908

17.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$327

Cinema Ticket

$12.92 $12.92

$4.97 MX$87.0

159.96%

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

$1,103 $1,103

$198 MX$3,462

457.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.5K $15.5K

$5,273 MX$92.3K

193.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 $55.4

$36.34 MX$636

52.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.57 $39.57

$40.05 MX$701

-1.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 $83.1

$79.9 MX$1,398

4.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 $106

$88.9 MX$1,555

18.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,673 $1,673

$963 MX$16.9K

73.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,276 $1,276

$465 MX$8,133

174.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,384 $2,384

$1,596 MX$27.9K

49.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,417 $2,417

$1,209 MX$21.2K

99.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,942 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,588 $1,588

$6,448 MX$112.8K

-75.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,188 $4,188

$720 MX$12.6K

481.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.46

11.42

-43.43%

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

Last update for Surprise, AZ: April 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,673 in Surprise, AZ versus $963 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 481% higher in Surprise, AZ, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Surprise, AZ versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $251 – making Playa del Carmen 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

Surprise, AZ vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Surprise, AZ is pricier by about 112%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,089 per month in Surprise, AZ and $1,930 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 Playa del Carmen, 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 $2,726 in Surprise, AZ and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 196% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Surprise, AZ at $2,726. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Surprise, AZ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – 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 Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Surprise, AZ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.