Cost of Living Comparison Between Figueira da Foz and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Figueira da Foz and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,290 per month in Figueira da Foz vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,868 per month in Figueira da Foz vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,446 per month in Figueira da Foz vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Figueira da Foz and Playa del Carmen have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Figueira da Foz and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Figueira da Foz 6% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Figueira da Foz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.64 €9.18
$11.71 MX$199
-9.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.17 €40.70
$46.59 MX$791
1.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.10 €6.13
$11.65 MX$198
-39.06%
Cappuccino
$1.55 €1.33
$4.09 MX$69.5
-62.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 €1.34
$1.37 MX$23.34
13.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 €0.94
$0.83 MX$14.16
31.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.95 €1.68
$3.35 MX$56.9
-41.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 €2.49
$6.91 MX$117
-58.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Figueira da Foz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 €0.86
$1.73 MX$29.33
-42.77%
White Bread (500g)
$1.32 €1.14
$2.26 MX$38.39
-41.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 €1.45
$1.77 MX$30.05
-5.08%
Eggs
$2.85 €2.46
$2.73 MX$46.41
4.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.36 €5.49
$9.18 MX$156
-30.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.63 €5.72
$8.92 MX$151
-25.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.89 €9.40
$12.60 MX$214
-13.57%
Apples (1kg)
$2.02 €1.75
$3.02 MX$51.3
-33.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 €1.26
$1.57 MX$26.68
-7.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 €1.60
$2.13 MX$36.10
-13.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$2.26 MX$38.46
-11.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.77 €1.53
$2.00 MX$34.04
-11.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.77 €1.52
$2.06 MX$35.06
-14.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.32 €1.14
$1.18 MX$20.04
11.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 €0.44
$1.20 MX$20.45
-57.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.34 €5.47
$4.63 MX$78.7
36.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.96 €3.42
$10.69 MX$182
-62.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 €0.88
$1.62 MX$27.50
-37.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 €2.34
$2.88 MX$48.93
-5.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Figueira da Foz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.49 €2.15
$0.57 MX$9.74
336.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.27 €35.61
$29.83 MX$507
38.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.65 €2.28
$5.45 MX$92.5
-51.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.84 €0.73
$3.70 MX$62.9
-77.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.40 €8.97
$5.98 MX$102
73.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 €1.81
$1.55 MX$26.38
34.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K €29.9K
$22.3K MX$379.2K
55.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1K €33.8K
$25.9K MX$440.7K
50.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Figueira da Foz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.8 €84.4
$89.1 MX$1,514
9.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.96 €18.95
$25.04 MX$425
-12.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.24 €27.82
$31.50 MX$535
2.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Figueira da Foz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.28 €30.45
$67.8 MX$1,151
-47.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.12 €17.36
$28.92 MX$491
-30.43%
Cinema Ticket
$8.55 €7.38
$5.05 MX$85.8
69.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Figueira da Foz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$287 €248
$225 MX$3,820
27.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,286 €5,424
$4,222 MX$71.7K
48.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Figueira da Foz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.6 €52.3
$47.44 MX$806
27.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.18 €31.22
$44.98 MX$764
-19.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$46.96 €40.52
$82.0 MX$1,392
-42.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.5 €83.3
$92.1 MX$1,564
4.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Figueira da Foz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$737 €636
$1,069 MX$18.2K
-31.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$547 €472
$405 MX$6,884
34.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,119 €966
$1,935 MX$32.9K
-42.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$757 €653
$1,301 MX$22.1K
-41.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,244 €1,936
$3,995 MX$67.9K
-43.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,497 €1,291
$6,626 MX$112.5K
-77.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Figueira da Foz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,194 €1,031
$749 MX$12.7K
59.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.53
11.45
-69.17%

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

Last update for Figueira da Foz: August 30, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $737 in Figueira da Foz versus $1,069 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 60% higher in Figueira da Foz. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Figueira da Foz versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $201 vs $277 – making Figueira da Foz 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
Figueira da Foz vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,935 per month in Figueira da Foz and $1,940 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Figueira da Foz, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Figueira da Foz or in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Figueira da Foz and $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 38% less in Figueira da Foz. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Figueira da Foz or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Figueira da Foz, where all-in costs run around $1,290, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Figueira da Foz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Figueira da Foz or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Figueira da Foz – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Figueira da Foz or Playa del Carmen?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Figueira da Foz. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Figueira da Foz vs other spots: cost of living compared

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