Cost of Living Comparison Between Federal Way, WA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Federal Way, WA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,247 per month in Federal Way, WA vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,321 per month in Federal Way, WA vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,395 per month in Federal Way, WA vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Federal Way, WA costs about 159% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Federal Way, WA sits 143% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.99 $26.99

$11.99 MX$210

125.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.4 $70.4

$41.78 MX$733

68.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.31 $12.31

$10.75 MX$189

14.51%

Cappuccino

$6.12 $6.12

$3.50 MX$61.3

74.86%

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

$2.84 $2.84

$1.45 MX$25.41

95.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$0.88 MX$15.52

151.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.09 $7.09

$2.95 MX$51.7

140.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.16 $6.16

$4.51 MX$79.1

36.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.43 MX$25.12

-18.88%

White Bread (500g)

$3.73 $3.73

$1.84 MX$32.23

102.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$1.57 MX$27.51

171.97%

Eggs

$4.90 $4.90

$2.51 MX$44.06

95.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.28 $13.28

$8.28 MX$145

60.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.55 $10.55

$8.43 MX$148

25.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.79 $17.79

$10.68 MX$187

66.57%

Apples (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$2.61 MX$45.76

101.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.44 MX$25.22

9.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.28 $4.28

$1.96 MX$34.41

118.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.93 $4.93

$2.09 MX$36.74

135.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.85 MX$32.47

61.62%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.17 MX$38.02

24.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.03 MX$18.09

95.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$1.07 MX$18.84

183.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.28 $12.28

$4.10 MX$72.0

199.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$10.17 MX$178

48.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.68 MX$29.38

1.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.87 $4.87

$2.53 MX$44.31

92.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.68 $2.68

$0.51 MX$8.93

425.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$457

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.23 MX$56.7

-20.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.41 MX$42.19

-16.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.81 $29.81

$3.23 MX$56.6

822.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.32 MX$23.17

-15.15%

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

$35.6K $35.6K

$29.7K MX$520.9K

19.90%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$23.7K MX$415.0K

9.13%

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

$129 $129

$82.0 MX$1,439

57.32%

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

$72.2 $72.2

$22.95 MX$403

214.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.5 $88.5

$30.11 MX$528

193.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.94 $12.94

$52.0 MX$912

-75.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$11.02 $11.02

$4.98 MX$87.3

121.29%

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

$1,458 $1,458

$197 MX$3,463

638.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$5,336 MX$93.6K

485.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 $51.5

$35.60 MX$624

44.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.06 $45.06

$40.33 MX$707

11.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.3 $86.3

$78.8 MX$1,381

9.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.9 $97.9

$88.9 MX$1,560

10.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,022 $2,022

$947 MX$16.6K

113.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,001 $2,001

$474 MX$8,314

322.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,799 $2,799

$1,644 MX$28.8K

70.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,430 $2,430

$1,211 MX$21.2K

100.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$71.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$113.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,461 $4,461

$654 MX$11.5K

582.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

11.42

-42.99%

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

Last update for Federal Way, WA: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,022 in Federal Way, WA versus $947 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 582% higher in Federal Way, WA, 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 $70.0 in Federal Way, WA versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $416 vs $249 – 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

Federal Way, WA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Federal Way, WA is pricier by about 159%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,871 per month in Federal Way, WA and $1,884 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,247 in Federal Way, WA and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,458 per month in Federal Way, WA and $197 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Federal Way, WA at $3,247. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Federal Way, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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, Federal Way, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.