😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,037 in Fgura versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,003 in Fgura versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,969 in Fgura versus $3,374 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Fgura is roughly 57% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Fgura is 48% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fgura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.38€17.59
$11.71MX$199
74.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.8€51.6
$46.59MX$791
28.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.07€12.14
$11.65MX$198
20.77%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.41
$4.09MX$69.5
-31.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17€2.73
$1.37MX$23.34
131.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35€2.03
$0.83MX$14.16
183.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.58€3.96
$3.35MX$56.9
36.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.19€4.48
$6.91MX$117
-24.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fgura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46€1.26
$1.73MX$29.33
-15.61%
White Bread(500g)
$1.19€1.03
$2.26MX$38.39
-47.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.59€3.96
$1.77MX$30.05
159.32%
Eggs
$4.28€3.69
$2.73MX$46.41
56.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.57€7.40
$9.18MX$156
-6.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.90€9.40
$8.92MX$151
22.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.68€16.12
$12.60MX$214
48.25%
Apples(1kg)
$4.41€3.80
$3.02MX$51.3
46.03%
Banana(1kg)
$2.81€2.42
$1.57MX$26.68
78.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.79€3.27
$2.13MX$36.10
77.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.45€2.98
$2.26MX$38.46
52.65%
Potato(1kg)
$2.56€2.21
$2.00MX$34.04
28.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.75
$2.06MX$35.06
-1.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.39€2.06
$1.18MX$20.04
102.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.15
$1.20MX$20.45
10.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.12€6.14
$4.63MX$78.7
53.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.28€7.14
$10.69MX$182
-22.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81€1.56
$1.62MX$27.50
11.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44€2.11
$2.88MX$48.93
-15.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Fgura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.66€2.29
$0.57MX$9.74
366.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.83MX$507
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.79€4.99
$5.45MX$92.5
6.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.29€1.98
$3.70MX$62.9
-38.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.10€24.25
$5.98MX$102
369.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54€1.33
$1.55MX$26.38
-0.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.5K€34.1K
$22.3KMX$379.2K
77.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.9K€35.3K
$25.9KMX$440.7K
57.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fgura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105€90.4
$89.1MX$1,514
17.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.71€15.29
$25.04MX$425
-29.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.37€39.15
$31.50MX$535
44.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fgura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.5€55.6
$67.8MX$1,151
-4.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.92MX$491
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.60€9.15
$5.05MX$85.8
109.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fgura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$383€330
$225MX$3,820
70.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.4K€9,840
$4,222MX$71.7K
170.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fgura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.2€77.8
$47.44MX$806
90.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.92€37.04
$44.98MX$764
-4.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.1
$82.0MX$1,392
25.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.3€70.1
$92.1MX$1,564
-11.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fgura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,154€996
$1,069MX$18.2K
7.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$985€850
$405MX$6,884
142.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,826€1,575
$1,935MX$32.9K
-5.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,530€1,320
$1,301MX$22.1K
17.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,039€3,486
$3,995MX$67.9K
1.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,849€2,458
$6,626MX$112.5K
-57.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fgura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,239€1,932
$749MX$12.7K
199.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.9
11.45
-74.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fgura: August 30, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,154 in Fgura and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Fgura pays 199% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $60.0 in Fgura vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $337 vs $277 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
Fgura vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Fgura and in Playa del Carmen?
Fgura and Playa del Carmen differ by about 57% in total monthly costs ($2,037 vs $1,293 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Fgura or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 199% higher in Fgura, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Fgura and in Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,154 in Fgura versus $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Fgura and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $383 in Fgura versus $225 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $60.0 in Fgura. 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 $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,037 in Fgura, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Fgura. 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 Fgura and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Fgura or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Fgura 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: Fgura or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Fgura. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.