😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,926 in Fgura versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,795 in Fgura versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,665 in Fgura versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Fgura is roughly 53% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Fgura is 44% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fgura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.81€18.21
$11.99MX$210
73.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.4€51.1
$41.78MX$733
39.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.43€10.00
$10.75MX$189
6.33%
Cappuccino
$3.00€2.63
$3.50MX$61.3
-14.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98€2.61
$1.45MX$25.41
105.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20€1.92
$0.88MX$15.52
150.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.70€4.11
$2.95MX$51.7
59.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.49€3.93
$4.51MX$79.1
-0.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fgura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32€1.16
$1.43MX$25.12
-7.69%
White Bread(500g)
$1.10€0.96
$1.84MX$32.23
-40.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.49€3.06
$1.57MX$27.51
122.29%
Eggs
$2.03€1.77
$2.51MX$44.06
-19.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.12€8.86
$8.28MX$145
22.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.99€7.87
$8.43MX$148
6.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.75€12.03
$10.68MX$187
28.75%
Apples(1kg)
$1.77€1.55
$2.61MX$45.76
-32.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.24€1.09
$1.44MX$25.22
-13.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52€1.33
$1.96MX$34.41
-22.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36€2.07
$2.09MX$36.74
12.92%
Potato(1kg)
$0.97€0.85
$1.85MX$32.47
-47.57%
Onion(1kg)
$0.91€0.80
$2.17MX$38.02
-58.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.95€0.83
$1.03MX$18.09
-7.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60€0.53
$1.07MX$18.84
-43.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.78
$4.10MX$72.0
61.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05€7.05
$10.17MX$178
-20.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93€1.68
$1.68MX$29.38
14.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21€1.94
$2.53MX$44.31
-12.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Fgura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.80€2.45
$0.51MX$8.93
449.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.04MX$457
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.96€5.21
$3.23MX$56.7
84.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.17€3.65
$2.41MX$42.19
73.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$49.60€43.40
$3.23MX$56.6
1435.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.51€1.32
$1.32MX$23.17
14.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€34.1K
$29.7KMX$520.9K
31.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.4K€32.7K
$23.7KMX$415.0K
57.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fgura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$93.7€82.0
$82.0MX$1,439
14.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.07€14.93
$22.95MX$403
-25.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.53€39.83
$30.11MX$528
51.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fgura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.4€56.3
$52.0MX$912
23.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.28€20.37
$18.53MX$325
25.63%
Cinema Ticket
$10.47€9.16
$4.98MX$87.3
110.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fgura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264€231
$197MX$3,463
33.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.9K€9,550
$5,336MX$93.6K
104.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fgura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.5€81.0
$35.60MX$624
159.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.87€34.01
$40.33MX$707
-3.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€89.6
$78.8MX$1,381
29.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100€87.7
$88.9MX$1,560
12.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fgura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,119€979
$947MX$16.6K
18.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$929€812
$474MX$8,314
95.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,003€1,752
$1,644MX$28.8K
21.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,482€1,297
$1,211MX$21.2K
22.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,943€3,450
$4,056MX$71.1K
-2.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,749€2,405
$6,470MX$113.5K
-57.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fgura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,130€1,863
$654MX$11.5K
225.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.08
11.42
-55.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fgura: July 14, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,119 in Fgura and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Fgura pays 226% 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: $58.0 in Fgura vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $243 vs $249, with Fgura cheaper for home cooking.
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 53% in total monthly costs ($1,926 vs $1,256 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 226% 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: $1,119 in Fgura versus $947 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 $264 in Fgura versus $197 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 $42.00 versus $58.0 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 $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,926 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 53% less than in Fgura. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.