🙂A single person spends $702 per month in Suwaylih vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,250 per month in Suwaylih vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,799 per month in Suwaylih vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Suwaylih is about 44% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Suwaylih and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Suwaylih48% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Suwaylih
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.19JOD 5.10
$11.67MX$202
-38.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.53JOD 35.12
$41.88MX$726
18.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.22JOD 4.41
$10.40MX$180
-40.19%
Cappuccino
$0.73JOD 0.52
$3.61MX$62.6
-79.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40JOD 0.29
$1.47MX$25.45
-72.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20JOD 0.14
$0.91MX$15.80
-78.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.62JOD 3.99
$3.03MX$52.6
85.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.24JOD 5.13
$4.47MX$77.4
61.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suwaylih
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37JOD 0.97
$1.38MX$23.83
-0.72%
White Bread(500g)
$0.36JOD 0.26
$1.84MX$31.93
-80.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64JOD 1.16
$1.61MX$27.82
1.86%
Eggs
$2.48JOD 1.76
$2.57MX$44.52
-3.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.65JOD 4.01
$8.49MX$147
-33.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.06JOD 2.17
$8.49MX$147
-63.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.72JOD 6.89
$10.99MX$190
-11.56%
Apples(1kg)
$1.99JOD 1.41
$2.73MX$47.25
-27.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38JOD 0.98
$1.50MX$25.92
-8.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.42JOD 1.01
$1.96MX$33.93
-27.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.68JOD 0.48
$2.12MX$36.70
-67.92%
Potato(1kg)
$0.92JOD 0.65
$1.86MX$32.30
-50.54%
Onion(1kg)
$0.70JOD 0.50
$2.17MX$37.67
-67.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.65JOD 0.46
$1.07MX$18.59
-39.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41JOD 0.29
$1.05MX$18.18
-60.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.43JOD 2.43
$4.19MX$72.6
-18.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.76JOD 14.72
$10.28MX$178
101.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.61JOD 3.27
$1.67MX$28.87
176.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.56JOD 3.94
$2.49MX$43.12
123.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Suwaylih
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.68JOD 0.48
$0.54MX$9.37
25.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.27MX$455
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.34JOD 0.24
$3.10MX$53.8
-89.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.37JOD 0.97
$2.46MX$42.66
-44.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.86JOD 4.86
$3.24MX$56.1
111.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.39JOD 0.99
$1.26MX$21.83
10.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6KJOD 19.6K
$30.2KMX$522.8K
-8.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.6KJOD 23.1K
$23.4KMX$406.3K
39.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suwaylih
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$35.18JOD 24.94
$84.0MX$1,456
-58.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.66JOD 11.81
$22.21MX$385
-24.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.97JOD 19.83
$29.65MX$514
-5.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suwaylih
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.22JOD 29.93
$52.6MX$912
-19.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.02JOD 14.91
$18.34MX$318
14.61%
Cinema Ticket
$11.14JOD 7.90
$4.95MX$85.7
125.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suwaylih
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$271JOD 192
$198MX$3,438
36.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,450JOD 3,864
$5,322MX$92.2K
2.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suwaylih
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92JOD 25.47
$35.95MX$623
-0.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.71JOD 18.94
$40.06MX$694
-33.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.9JOD 50.3
$78.8MX$1,365
-9.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.3JOD 49.15
$86.5MX$1,499
-19.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suwaylih
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$143JOD 101
$977MX$16.9K
-85.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$114JOD 80.6
$471MX$8,158
-75.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$423JOD 300
$1,595MX$27.6K
-73.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$353JOD 250
$1,215MX$21.1K
-70.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$987JOD 699
$4,032MX$69.9K
-75.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$900JOD 638
$6,579MX$114.0K
-86.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suwaylih
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$782JOD 554
$714MX$12.4K
9.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.27
11.42
-36.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Suwaylih: April 20, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $143 in Suwaylih versus $977 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 9% higher in Suwaylih, 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 $50 in Suwaylih versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $210 in Suwaylih vs $252 in Playa del Carmen – so Suwaylih 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
Suwaylih vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Suwaylih?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 80%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,052 per month in Suwaylih and $1,891 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Suwaylih, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Suwaylih vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $702 in Suwaylih and $1,261 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $271 per month in Suwaylih and $198 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Suwaylih or Playa del Carmen?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Suwaylih, where all-in costs run around $702, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,261. In Suwaylih it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Suwaylih or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Suwaylih – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Suwaylih or Playa del Carmen?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Suwaylih. 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.