๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,806 in Fayence versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,731 in Fayence versus $2,130 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,657 in Fayence versus $2,999 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Living in Fayence is roughly 43% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Fayence is 35% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Fayence
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.48โฌ14.91
$11.67MX$202
49.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.7โฌ49.18
$41.88MX$726
37.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.51โฌ9.82
$10.40MX$180
10.67%
Cappuccino
$3.34โฌ2.85
$3.61MX$62.6
-7.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80โฌ2.39
$1.47MX$25.45
90.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85โฌ1.58
$0.91MX$15.80
103.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.87โฌ5.86
$3.03MX$52.6
126.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.67โฌ4.83
$4.47MX$77.4
26.85%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Fayence
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26โฌ1.07
$1.38MX$23.83
-8.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.79โฌ1.53
$1.84MX$31.93
-2.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.64โฌ2.25
$1.61MX$27.82
63.98%
Eggs
$4.06โฌ3.47
$2.57MX$44.52
57.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.73โฌ15.98
$8.49MX$147
120.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.49โฌ11.51
$8.49MX$147
58.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.81โฌ17.75
$10.99MX$190
89.35%
Apples(1kg)
$3.04โฌ2.59
$2.73MX$47.25
11.36%
Banana(1kg)
$2.16โฌ1.85
$1.50MX$25.92
44.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.70โฌ2.31
$1.96MX$33.93
37.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.63โฌ3.10
$2.12MX$36.70
71.23%
Potato(1kg)
$2.22โฌ1.90
$1.86MX$32.30
19.35%
Onion(1kg)
$2.57โฌ2.19
$2.17MX$37.67
18.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55โฌ1.32
$1.07MX$18.59
44.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67โฌ0.57
$1.05MX$18.18
-36.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.83โฌ11.80
$4.19MX$72.6
230.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.62โฌ6.50
$10.28MX$178
-25.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.68โฌ2.28
$1.67MX$28.87
60.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37โฌ2.88
$2.49MX$43.12
35.34%
๐ Getting Around
Fayence
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.00โฌ1.70
$0.54MX$9.37
270.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$48.35โฌ41.24
$26.27MX$455
84.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.66โฌ3.97
$3.10MX$53.8
50.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.85โฌ1.58
$2.46MX$42.66
-24.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$36.30โฌ30.96
$3.24MX$56.1
1020.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02โฌ1.72
$1.26MX$21.83
60.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1Kโฌ32.5K
$30.2KMX$522.8K
26.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.3Kโฌ31.8K
$23.4KMX$406.3K
59.01%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fayence
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$196โฌ167
$84.0MX$1,456
132.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.08โฌ19.69
$22.21MX$385
3.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.15โฌ28.28
$29.65MX$514
11.80%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Fayence
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.98โฌ32.40
$52.6MX$912
-27.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.25โฌ15.56
$18.34MX$318
-0.49%
Cinema Ticket
$13.96โฌ11.91
$4.95MX$85.7
182.02%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Fayence
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$768โฌ655
$198MX$3,438
287.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,729โฌ7,446
$5,322MX$92.2K
64.04%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Fayence
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102โฌ87.4
$35.95MX$623
184.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.19โฌ33.43
$40.06MX$694
-2.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.9โฌ77.5
$78.8MX$1,365
15.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142โฌ121
$86.5MX$1,499
63.60%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Fayence
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$783โฌ668
$977MX$16.9K
-19.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$614โฌ524
$471MX$8,158
30.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,407โฌ1,200
$1,595MX$27.6K
-11.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,071โฌ914
$1,215MX$21.1K
-11.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,766โฌ4,066
$4,032MX$69.9K
18.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,803โฌ2,391
$6,579MX$114.0K
-57.40%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Fayence
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$714MX$12.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.63
11.42
-68.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fayence: April 20, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $783 in Fayence and $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $58 in Fayence vs $42 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $362 vs $252 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
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
Fayence vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Fayence and Playa del Carmen?
Fayence and Playa del Carmen differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($1,806 vs $1,261 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Fayence compared to Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $2,709 in Fayence and $1,891 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Fayence and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $783 in Fayence versus $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in Fayence. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen โ a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $58.0 in Fayence. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,806 in Fayence, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Fayence. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Fayence and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Fayence or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Fayence and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Fayence or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 43% less than in Fayence. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.