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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Falmouth vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,727 per month in Falmouth vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,423 per month in Falmouth vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Falmouth is about 21% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Falmouth and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Falmouth 25% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Falmouth
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.52 JMD 2,438
$11.96 MX$203
29.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.5 JMD 12.0K
$47.38 MX$804
61.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.05 JMD 1,422
$11.75 MX$199
-22.98%
Cappuccino
$5.28 JMD 829
$4.12 MX$70.0
28.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 JMD 186
$1.40 MX$23.74
-15.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 JMD 109
$0.91 MX$15.48
-23.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.17 JMD 342
$3.21 MX$54.4
-32.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 JMD 487
$7.07 MX$120
-56.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Falmouth
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$4.26 JMD 669
$1.68 MX$28.44
153.57%
White Bread (500g)
$3.87 JMD 609
$2.15 MX$36.48
80.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.66 JMD 260
$1.77 MX$30.10
-6.21%
Eggs
$3.46 JMD 544
$2.82 MX$47.76
22.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.59 JMD 1,820
$9.20 MX$156
25.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.41 JMD 1,006
$9.23 MX$157
-30.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.48 JMD 1,646
$12.64 MX$214
-17.09%
Apples (1kg)
$5.91 JMD 929
$2.95 MX$50.1
100.34%
Banana (1kg)
$4.01 JMD 630
$1.58 MX$26.79
153.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.40 JMD 1,162
$2.22 MX$37.70
233.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.98 JMD 467
$2.36 MX$40.09
26.27%
Potato (1kg)
$3.18 JMD 500
$1.99 MX$33.81
59.80%
Onion (1kg)
$2.59 JMD 406
$1.98 MX$33.58
30.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.13 JMD 491
$1.24 MX$21.04
152.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 JMD 238
$1.21 MX$20.55
24.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.43 JMD 1,481
$4.60 MX$78.1
105.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.19 JMD 1,758
$10.52 MX$178
6.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 JMD 458
$1.69 MX$28.70
72.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.06 JMD 638
$2.77 MX$47.06
46.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Falmouth
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.60 MX$10.22
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$29.70 MX$504
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 JMD 187
$5.24 MX$88.8
-77.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.18 JMD 499
$3.65 MX$61.9
-12.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.30 JMD 989
$5.78 MX$98.1
9.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.41 JMD 221
$1.54 MX$26.09
-8.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.7K JMD 6.9M
$22.8K MX$386.8K
91.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K JMD 5.1M
$25.8K MX$437.9K
26.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Falmouth
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 JMD 27.1K
$90.7 MX$1,538
90.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.81 JMD 4,682
$25.19 MX$427
18.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.1 JMD 8,178
$31.75 MX$539
63.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Falmouth
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$68.8 MX$1,167
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.37 MX$498
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.48 JMD 2,117
$4.86 MX$82.5
177.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Falmouth
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$361 JMD 56.6K
$226 MX$3,828
59.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,242 JMD 1.3M
$4,194 MX$71.1K
96.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Falmouth
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.46 JMD 3,685
$47.38 MX$804
-50.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.42 JMD 4,935
$43.45 MX$737
-27.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.5 JMD 12.5K
$80.2 MX$1,361
-0.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 JMD 16.2K
$91.4 MX$1,550
12.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Falmouth
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,086 MX$18.4K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$409 MX$6,933
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,972 MX$33.5K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,281 MX$21.7K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,046 MX$68.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,704 MX$113.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Falmouth
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$773 MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.45
11.45
-17.47%

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

Last update for Falmouth: September 5, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Falmouth versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $389 vs $278 – 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
Falmouth vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Falmouth or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen costs about 27% more than Falmouth, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Falmouth and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,547 per month in Falmouth and $1,958 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Falmouth and in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Falmouth and $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Falmouth or in Playa del Carmen?
Interestingly, groceries are about 40% cheaper in Playa del Carmen – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Falmouth or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Falmouth, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Falmouth it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Falmouth or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Falmouth costs $1,031 versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Falmouth or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Falmouth. 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.

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