😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,693 in Fiumicino versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,538 in Fiumicino versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,383 in Fiumicino versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Fiumicino is roughly 31% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Fiumicino is 26% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fiumicino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.64€15.19
$11.73MX$203
50.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.4€59.8
$41.62MX$719
66.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.72€10.09
$10.64MX$184
10.15%
Cappuccino
$1.36€1.17
$3.52MX$60.8
-61.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07€1.78
$1.51MX$26.09
37.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09€0.93
$0.97MX$16.82
12.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.52€3.89
$2.95MX$51.0
53.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76€4.10
$4.45MX$77.0
6.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fiumicino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.94€1.67
$1.38MX$23.90
40.58%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$1.89MX$32.69
-6.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.92€2.51
$1.64MX$28.29
78.05%
Eggs
$4.15€3.57
$2.51MX$43.30
65.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.95€12.87
$8.34MX$144
79.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.13€8.72
$8.34MX$144
21.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.22€13.97
$10.73MX$185
51.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.57€2.21
$2.60MX$45.00
-1.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.91€1.65
$1.46MX$25.18
30.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.72€2.34
$1.90MX$32.84
43.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.59€3.09
$2.08MX$35.88
72.60%
Potato(1kg)
$1.93€1.66
$1.78MX$30.68
8.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$2.19MX$37.76
-22.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.30
$1.04MX$17.97
45.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73€0.63
$1.08MX$18.60
-32.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76€5.82
$4.08MX$70.5
65.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.20€7.06
$10.32MX$178
-20.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.57€2.22
$1.71MX$29.59
50.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33€2.86
$2.58MX$44.50
29.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Fiumicino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.71€1.47
$0.51MX$8.81
235.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.12€37.12
$26.46MX$457
62.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.67€4.02
$3.26MX$56.4
43.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.28€1.10
$2.49MX$43.05
-48.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.09€30.21
$3.25MX$56.1
979.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.03€1.74
$1.31MX$22.59
54.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K€25.0K
$30.3KMX$523.2K
-3.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K€27.4K
$23.4KMX$404.9K
36.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fiumicino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$179€154
$82.9MX$1,432
116.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.40€11.54
$22.22MX$384
-39.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.35€29.57
$29.34MX$507
17.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fiumicino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.4€52.8
$51.6MX$892
18.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.77€19.60
$18.32MX$317
24.29%
Cinema Ticket
$10.40€8.95
$5.07MX$87.5
105.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fiumicino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$384€330
$201MX$3,470
91.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,029€5,190
$5,212MX$90.1K
15.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fiumicino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.9
$36.92MX$638
182.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.11€35.39
$39.79MX$688
3.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100€86.5
$78.5MX$1,356
28.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117€101
$87.1MX$1,505
34.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fiumicino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$758€653
$973MX$16.8K
-22.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$571€491
$468MX$8,082
22.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,204€1,037
$1,641MX$28.4K
-26.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$942€811
$1,221MX$21.1K
-22.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,565€2,208
$3,946MX$68.2K
-35.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,058€1,771
$6,498MX$112.3K
-68.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fiumicino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,222€1,913
$664MX$11.5K
234.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.04
11.42
-64.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fiumicino: May 30, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $758 in Fiumicino and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Fiumicino pays 235% 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: $69.0 in Fiumicino vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $323 vs $249 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 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Fiumicino or Playa del Carmen?
Fiumicino pays 235% more on average, 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: $758 in Fiumicino versus $973 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,693 per month in Fiumicino versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – a 31% 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 63% 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 Fiumicino or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,693 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 31% less than in Fiumicino. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.