😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,551 in Fayetteville, GA versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,764 in Fayetteville, GA versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,976 in Fayetteville, GA versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Fayetteville, GA is roughly 102% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Fayetteville, GA is 87% above, Playa del Carmen is 7% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fayetteville, GA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.81$19.81
$11.60MX$200
70.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.4$61.4
$47.11MX$812
30.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.62$11.62
$11.88MX$205
-2.19%
Cappuccino
$4.93$4.93
$3.98MX$68.6
23.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07$3.07
$1.43MX$24.60
114.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77$1.77
$0.82MX$14.22
115.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.09$6.09
$3.19MX$55.0
90.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.22$7.22
$6.79MX$117
6.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fayetteville, GA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00$1.00
$1.68MX$28.89
-40.48%
White Bread(500g)
$3.58$3.58
$2.20MX$37.88
62.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.41$4.41
$1.71MX$29.45
157.89%
Eggs
$4.21$4.21
$2.74MX$47.26
53.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.47$12.47
$9.58MX$165
30.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.71$11.71
$9.01MX$155
29.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.23$17.23
$12.81MX$221
34.50%
Apples(1kg)
$4.91$4.91
$2.89MX$49.81
69.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81$1.81
$1.50MX$25.81
20.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.33$4.33
$2.15MX$37.03
101.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.79$4.79
$2.26MX$38.96
111.95%
Potato(1kg)
$2.84$2.84
$1.98MX$34.15
43.43%
Onion(1kg)
$2.94$2.94
$1.99MX$34.30
47.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.14$2.14
$1.23MX$21.28
73.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.23$2.23
$1.20MX$20.63
85.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.17$10.17
$4.55MX$78.5
123.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.72$14.72
$10.37MX$179
41.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09$2.09
$1.62MX$27.91
29.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24$3.24
$2.88MX$49.67
12.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Fayetteville, GA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.05$2.05
$0.60MX$10.35
241.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.31$34.31
$28.80MX$497
19.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.22$3.22
$5.39MX$92.9
-40.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.69$1.69
$3.73MX$64.3
-54.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$30.74$30.74
$5.77MX$99.5
432.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.93$0.93
$1.54MX$26.48
-39.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.6K$35.6K
$22.5KMX$388.8K
57.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K$25.6K
$26.1KMX$449.3K
-1.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fayetteville, GA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191$191
$91.4MX$1,576
108.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.2$57.2
$25.20MX$435
126.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.1$69.1
$31.24MX$539
121.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fayetteville, GA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.71$43.71
$67.2MX$1,159
-34.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11MX$502
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.44$12.44
$4.86MX$83.8
155.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fayetteville, GA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,561$1,561
$224MX$3,856
597.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$20.4K$20.4K
$4,229MX$72.9K
381.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fayetteville, GA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.2$58.2
$47.10MX$812
23.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.68$38.68
$44.29MX$764
-12.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.3$87.3
$80.1MX$1,381
8.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102$102
$92.7MX$1,598
10.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fayetteville, GA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,600$1,600
$1,063MX$18.3K
50.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,301$1,301
$390MX$6,728
233.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,491$2,491
$2,149MX$37.1K
15.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,174$2,174
$1,272MX$21.9K
70.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,143$3,143
$4,001MX$69.0K
-21.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,092$2,092
$6,502MX$112.1K
-67.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fayetteville, GA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$758MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.12
11.45
-46.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fayetteville, GA: September 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,600 in Fayetteville, GA and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $61.0 in Fayetteville, GA vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $401 vs $276 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
Fayetteville, GA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Fayetteville, GA or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 102% lower than in Fayetteville, GA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Fayetteville, GA and in Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $3,827 in Fayetteville, GA and $1,899 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Fayetteville, GA compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,600 in Fayetteville, GA versus $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Fayetteville, GA compared to Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 19% less than in Fayetteville, GA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Fayetteville, GA and in Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $1,561 in Fayetteville, GA versus $224 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Fayetteville, GA or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,551 in Fayetteville, GA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Fayetteville, GA. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Fayetteville, GA or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,266 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 102% less than in Fayetteville, GA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Fayetteville, GA vs other spots: cost of living compared