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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $964 per month in Suva vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,795 per month in Suva vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,626 per month in Suva vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Suva is about 23% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Suva and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Suva 28% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.26 FJD 11.76

$11.99 MX$210

-56.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.35 FJD 102

$41.78 MX$731

8.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.62 FJD 14.81

$10.75 MX$188

-38.42%

Cappuccino

$3.26 FJD 7.30

$3.50 MX$61.1

-6.86%

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

$1.41 FJD 3.15

$1.45 MX$25.33

-2.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 FJD 1.49

$0.88 MX$15.47

-23.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.05 FJD 6.82

$2.95 MX$51.6

3.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 FJD 8.20

$4.51 MX$78.9

-18.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 FJD 2.87

$1.43 MX$25.04

-10.49%

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 FJD 1.11

$1.84 MX$32.13

-72.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 FJD 2.58

$1.57 MX$27.42

-26.75%

Eggs

$3.30 FJD 7.38

$2.51 MX$43.92

31.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.09 FJD 20.35

$8.28 MX$145

9.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.25 FJD 16.22

$8.43 MX$147

-14.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.56 FJD 16.91

$10.68 MX$187

-29.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.56 FJD 5.73

$2.61 MX$45.62

-1.92%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 FJD 5.67

$1.44 MX$25.15

75.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.57 FJD 7.99

$1.96 MX$34.31

82.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.25 FJD 7.27

$2.09 MX$36.62

55.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.49 FJD 3.33

$1.85 MX$32.37

-19.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 FJD 2.62

$2.17 MX$37.90

-46.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.21 FJD 2.71

$1.03 MX$18.04

17.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 FJD 1.71

$1.07 MX$18.78

-28.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.87 FJD 22.10

$4.10 MX$71.7

140.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.47 FJD 16.71

$10.17 MX$178

-26.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 FJD 4.80

$1.68 MX$29.29

27.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 FJD 7.49

$2.53 MX$44.17

32.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 FJD 2.08

$0.51 MX$8.90

82.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.89 FJD 48.98

$26.04 MX$455

-15.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 FJD 2.03

$3.23 MX$56.5

-71.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 FJD 0.99

$2.41 MX$42.06

-81.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.83 FJD 19.76

$3.23 MX$56.5

173.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 FJD 3.10

$1.32 MX$23.10

5.30%

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

$24.3K FJD 54.4K

$29.7K MX$519.2K

-18.15%

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

$25.0K FJD 56.0K

$23.7K MX$413.7K

5.67%

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

$45.01 FJD 101

$82.0 MX$1,434

-45.12%

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

$13.15 FJD 29.44

$22.95 MX$401

-42.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.78 FJD 53.2

$30.11 MX$527

-21.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.58 FJD 66.2

$52.0 MX$909

-43.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.07 FJD 15.83

$18.53 MX$324

-61.85%

Cinema Ticket

$4.51 FJD 10.10

$4.98 MX$87.0

-9.44%

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

$230 FJD 514

$197 MX$3,452

16.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K FJD 32.1K

$5,336 MX$93.3K

169.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.53 FJD 57.1

$35.60 MX$622

-28.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.96 FJD 60.4

$40.33 MX$705

-33.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.6 FJD 156

$78.8 MX$1,377

-11.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.5 FJD 138

$88.9 MX$1,555

-30.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$588 FJD 1,315

$947 MX$16.6K

-37.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 FJD 858

$474 MX$8,288

-19.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,070 FJD 4,633

$1,644 MX$28.7K

25.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,222 FJD 2,736

$1,211 MX$21.2K

0.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,350 FJD 3,021

$4,056 MX$70.9K

-66.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$838 FJD 1,875

$6,470 MX$113.1K

-87.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$949 FJD 2,125

$654 MX$11.4K

45.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.7

11.42

-32.57%

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

Last update for Suva: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $588 in Suva 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 45% higher in Suva, 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 $45.00 in Suva versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Suva vs $249 in Playa del Carmen – so Suva 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 30%, 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 $1,445 per month in Suva 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 Suva, 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 $964 in Suva 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 19% less in Suva. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Suva, where all-in costs run around $964, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Suva it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Suva – 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 Suva. 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.