Cost of Living Comparison Between Fayetteville, AR and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Fayetteville, AR and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,186 per month in Fayetteville, AR vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,372 per month in Fayetteville, AR vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,559 per month in Fayetteville, AR vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Fayetteville, AR costs about 72% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Fayetteville, AR sits 63% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.19 $16.19

$11.87 MX$207

36.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.8 $59.8

$42.90 MX$749

39.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.10 $9.10

$10.65 MX$186

-14.55%

Cappuccino

$4.85 $4.85

$3.45 MX$60.2

40.58%

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

$2.19 $2.19

$1.50 MX$26.24

46.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 $1.36

$0.95 MX$16.56

43.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.99 $4.99

$3.03 MX$52.8

64.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.06 $6.06

$4.61 MX$80.4

31.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.38 MX$24.01

-30.43%

White Bread (500g)

$3.48 $3.48

$1.85 MX$32.24

88.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$1.61 MX$28.11

93.17%

Eggs

$2.93 $2.93

$2.59 MX$45.26

13.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.35 $8.35

$8.26 MX$144

1.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.62 $8.62

$8.37 MX$146

2.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.32 $13.32

$10.66 MX$186

24.95%

Apples (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

$2.63 MX$45.89

73.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.49 MX$25.96

-6.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.92 MX$33.50

37.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$2.09 MX$36.41

90.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.86 MX$32.42

1.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.26 MX$39.47

11.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.06 MX$18.54

37.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.09 MX$18.98

77.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.41 $8.41

$4.15 MX$72.4

102.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.29 $15.29

$10.39 MX$181

47.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.72 MX$30.09

-5.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.61 MX$45.60

-16.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.01 $2.01

$0.54 MX$9.46

272.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.94 MX$470

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 $2.44

$3.13 MX$54.6

-22.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.28 $1.28

$2.51 MX$43.82

-49.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.15 $24.15

$3.15 MX$55.0

666.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$1.27 MX$22.25

-37.80%

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

$23.9K $23.9K

$30.4K MX$530.1K

-21.32%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$23.6K MX$411.3K

8.95%

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

$174 $174

$83.0 MX$1,449

110.12%

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

$52.6 $52.6

$22.71 MX$396

131.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.9 $62.9

$29.46 MX$514

113.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.0 $71.0

$51.0 MX$890

39.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.33 MX$320

Cinema Ticket

$12.70 $12.70

$4.93 MX$86.0

157.61%

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

$1,045 $1,045

$197 MX$3,444

429.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.6K $18.6K

$5,280 MX$92.1K

252.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.2 $53.2

$36.90 MX$644

44.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.05 $42.05

$39.89 MX$696

5.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$80.0 MX$1,396

27.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$89.5 MX$1,561

25.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,530 $1,530

$956 MX$16.7K

59.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,038 $1,038

$477 MX$8,327

117.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,800 $2,800

$1,646 MX$28.7K

70.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,106 $2,106

$1,225 MX$21.4K

71.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,619 $2,619

$3,918 MX$68.4K

-33.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,188 $2,188

$6,459 MX$112.7K

-66.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,593 $3,593

$667 MX$11.6K

438.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.58

11.42

-42.38%

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

Last update for Fayetteville, AR: June 6, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,530 in Fayetteville, AR versus $956 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 439% higher in Fayetteville, AR, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Fayetteville, AR versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $321 vs $250 – 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

Fayetteville, AR vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,186 in Fayetteville, AR, $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 72% apart. Fayetteville, AR costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,279 per month in Fayetteville, AR and $1,906 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 Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Fayetteville, AR and $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 29% more in Fayetteville, AR, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,271, than in Fayetteville, AR at $2,186. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fayetteville, AR it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,271 in Playa del Carmen to $2,186 in Fayetteville, AR. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Fayetteville, AR makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.