😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,801 in Fiumicino versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,694 in Fiumicino versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,586 in Fiumicino versus $3,374 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Fiumicino is roughly 39% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Fiumicino is 31% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fiumicino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.72€15.23
$11.71MX$198
51.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.1€70.5
$46.59MX$788
76.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.48€9.87
$11.65MX$197
-1.46%
Cappuccino
$2.33€2.00
$4.09MX$69.2
-43.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51€2.16
$1.37MX$23.23
83.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29€1.11
$0.83MX$14.09
55.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.78€4.97
$3.35MX$56.7
72.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.84€4.16
$6.91MX$117
-29.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fiumicino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.00€1.72
$1.73MX$29.20
15.61%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89€1.62
$2.26MX$38.21
-16.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.32€2.85
$1.77MX$29.91
87.57%
Eggs
$4.54€3.90
$2.73MX$46.19
66.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.53€14.21
$9.18MX$155
80.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.49€10.74
$8.92MX$151
40.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.97€18.03
$12.60MX$213
66.43%
Apples(1kg)
$2.57€2.21
$3.02MX$51.1
-14.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.93€1.66
$1.57MX$26.55
22.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.40€2.06
$2.13MX$35.93
12.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.56€3.06
$2.26MX$38.28
57.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.73€1.49
$2.00MX$33.88
-13.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.73€1.49
$2.06MX$34.90
-16.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.33€1.14
$1.18MX$19.94
12.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57€0.49
$1.20MX$20.35
-52.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01€6.02
$4.63MX$78.4
51.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.23€6.21
$10.69MX$181
-32.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93€1.66
$1.62MX$27.38
19.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29€2.83
$2.88MX$48.70
14.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Fiumicino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.72€1.48
$0.57MX$9.69
201.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.97€37.80
$29.83MX$504
47.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.70€4.04
$5.45MX$92.1
-13.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.26€1.08
$3.70MX$62.6
-65.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.30€20.89
$5.98MX$101
306.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.16€1.86
$1.55MX$26.26
39.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.3K€32.1K
$22.3KMX$377.4K
67.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.8K€31.7K
$25.9KMX$438.7K
41.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fiumicino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125€107
$89.1MX$1,507
40.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.79€8.41
$25.04MX$423
-60.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.94€26.60
$31.50MX$532
-1.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fiumicino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.38
$67.8MX$1,146
-15.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.12€22.45
$28.92MX$489
-9.68%
Cinema Ticket
$10.27€8.83
$5.05MX$85.4
103.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fiumicino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$467€401
$225MX$3,803
107.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,222€7,069
$4,222MX$71.4K
94.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fiumicino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101€86.9
$47.44MX$802
113.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.83€37.68
$44.98MX$760
-2.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107€92.3
$82.0MX$1,386
31.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133€114
$92.1MX$1,557
44.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fiumicino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$742€638
$1,069MX$18.1K
-30.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$736€632
$405MX$6,852
81.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,228€1,056
$1,935MX$32.7K
-36.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$907€780
$1,301MX$22.0K
-30.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,889€2,484
$3,995MX$67.5K
-27.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090€1,797
$6,626MX$112.0K
-68.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fiumicino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,277€1,957
$749MX$12.7K
204.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.09
11.45
-73.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fiumicino: August 30, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $742 in Fiumicino and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Fiumicino pays 204% 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: $82.0 in Fiumicino vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $349 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
Fiumicino vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Fiumicino?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 39% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Fiumicino or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 204% higher in Fiumicino, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Fiumicino and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $742 in Fiumicino versus $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Fiumicino and in Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,801 per month in Fiumicino versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen – a 39% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 47% less than in Fiumicino. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Fiumicino or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,801 in Fiumicino, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Fiumicino. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Fiumicino or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Fiumicino, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Fiumicino or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Fiumicino 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Fiumicino. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.