🙂A single person spends $720 per month in Suwaylih vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,316 per month in Suwaylih vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,913 per month in Suwaylih vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Suwaylih is about 43% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Suwaylih and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Suwaylih47% lower, Playa del Carmen7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Suwaylih
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.13JOD 5.05
$11.60MX$199
-38.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.8JOD 47.98
$47.11MX$808
43.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.41JOD 4.54
$11.88MX$204
-46.04%
Cappuccino
$0.68JOD 0.48
$3.98MX$68.2
-82.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43JOD 0.31
$1.43MX$24.46
-69.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20JOD 0.14
$0.82MX$14.14
-75.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.69JOD 6.15
$3.19MX$54.7
172.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.86JOD 7.68
$6.79MX$116
59.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suwaylih
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38JOD 0.97
$1.68MX$28.72
-17.86%
White Bread(500g)
$0.33JOD 0.24
$2.20MX$37.67
-85.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57JOD 1.11
$1.71MX$29.29
-8.19%
Eggs
$2.37JOD 1.68
$2.74MX$46.99
-13.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.78JOD 4.09
$9.58MX$164
-39.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.03JOD 2.14
$9.01MX$154
-66.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.92JOD 7.02
$12.81MX$220
-22.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.15JOD 1.52
$2.89MX$49.52
-25.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39JOD 0.99
$1.50MX$25.67
-7.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.42JOD 1.01
$2.15MX$36.83
-33.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.72JOD 0.51
$2.26MX$38.74
-68.14%
Potato(1kg)
$0.97JOD 0.69
$1.98MX$33.96
-51.01%
Onion(1kg)
$0.89JOD 0.63
$1.99MX$34.11
-55.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.65JOD 0.46
$1.23MX$21.16
-47.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44JOD 0.31
$1.20MX$20.52
-63.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.48JOD 2.46
$4.55MX$78.0
-23.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.20JOD 15.00
$10.37MX$178
104.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.15JOD 3.65
$1.62MX$27.76
217.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.01JOD 3.55
$2.88MX$49.39
73.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Suwaylih
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.69JOD 0.49
$0.60MX$10.29
15.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.80MX$494
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.34JOD 0.24
$5.39MX$92.4
-93.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.38JOD 0.97
$3.73MX$63.9
-63.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.22JOD 5.11
$5.77MX$98.9
25.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.45JOD 1.02
$1.54MX$26.34
-5.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3KJOD 25.0K
$22.5KMX$386.6K
56.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9KJOD 24.0K
$26.1KMX$446.7K
29.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suwaylih
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$35.46JOD 25.09
$91.4MX$1,567
-61.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.62JOD 11.05
$25.20MX$432
-38.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.89JOD 19.74
$31.24MX$536
-10.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suwaylih
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.06JOD 30.47
$67.2MX$1,152
-35.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.77JOD 14.70
$29.11MX$499
-28.65%
Cinema Ticket
$11.38JOD 8.06
$4.86MX$83.4
134.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suwaylih
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$492JOD 348
$224MX$3,834
120.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,974JOD 4,936
$4,229MX$72.5K
64.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suwaylih
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.81JOD 24.64
$47.10MX$808
-26.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.67JOD 18.88
$44.29MX$759
-39.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.8JOD 49.42
$80.1MX$1,373
-12.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.6JOD 50.6
$92.7MX$1,589
-22.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suwaylih
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$141JOD 99.7
$1,063MX$18.2K
-86.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$113JOD 79.7
$390MX$6,690
-71.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$421JOD 298
$2,149MX$36.8K
-80.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$352JOD 249
$1,272MX$21.8K
-72.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$973JOD 689
$4,001MX$68.6K
-75.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$918JOD 650
$6,502MX$111.5K
-85.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suwaylih
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$784JOD 555
$758MX$13.0K
3.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.81
11.45
-40.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Suwaylih: September 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $141 in Suwaylih versus $1,063 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 3% 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 $68.0 in Suwaylih versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $214 in Suwaylih vs $276 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 76%, 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 $1,079 per month in Suwaylih and $1,899 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $720 in Suwaylih and $1,266 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 $492 per month in Suwaylih and $224 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 living in Suwaylih or in Playa del Carmen?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Suwaylih, where all-in costs run around $720, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. 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.