🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,061 in Fond du Sac versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,749 in Fond du Sac versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,437 in Fond du Sac versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Fond du Sac costs roughly 16% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Fond du Sac20% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.65MUR 312
$11.72MX$203
-43.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.96MUR 2,059
$41.89MX$725
4.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.01MUR 328
$10.51MX$182
-33.30%
Cappuccino
$2.62MUR 123
$3.59MX$62.0
-27.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MUR 45.53
$1.51MX$26.10
-35.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59MUR 27.84
$0.92MX$15.83
-35.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.15MUR 101
$2.96MX$51.2
-27.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35MUR 157
$4.41MX$76.3
-24.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63MUR 76.3
$1.40MX$24.16
16.43%
White Bread(500g)
$0.70MUR 32.99
$1.88MX$32.60
-62.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.33MUR 62.2
$1.56MX$26.97
-14.74%
Eggs
$2.26MUR 106
$2.61MX$45.14
-13.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.93MUR 559
$8.32MX$144
43.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.13MUR 287
$8.35MX$145
-26.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.90MUR 604
$10.86MX$188
18.78%
Apples(1kg)
$1.96MUR 92.0
$2.71MX$46.93
-27.68%
Banana(1kg)
$2.02MUR 94.5
$1.51MX$26.04
33.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.51MUR 70.7
$1.87MX$32.41
-19.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63MUR 123
$2.19MX$37.89
20.09%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03MUR 48.41
$1.86MX$32.14
-44.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.02MUR 47.66
$2.23MX$38.59
-54.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.80MUR 37.53
$1.07MX$18.48
-25.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76MUR 35.38
$1.09MX$18.79
-30.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.66MUR 312
$4.19MX$72.4
58.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.65MUR 405
$10.43MX$180
-17.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MUR 80.9
$1.66MX$28.68
4.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15MUR 101
$2.61MX$45.19
-17.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.05MUR 48.98
$0.54MX$9.37
94.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.16MX$453
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.28MUR 201
$3.08MX$53.3
38.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.74MUR 128
$2.40MX$41.61
14.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.13MUR 943
$3.13MX$54.1
543.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.39MUR 65.2
$1.31MX$22.69
6.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0KMUR 1.6M
$29.8KMX$515.7K
17.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.9KMUR 1.4M
$23.3KMX$403.5K
23.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$49.26MUR 2,307
$81.3MX$1,406
-39.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.09MUR 847
$22.56MX$390
-19.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.43MUR 1,566
$30.05MX$520
11.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.32MUR 1,795
$52.9MX$915
-27.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39MX$318
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.87MUR 275
$4.92MX$85.1
19.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$156MUR 7,320
$201MX$3,474
-22.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,922MUR 183.7K
$5,175MX$89.5K
-24.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.8MUR 3,973
$35.92MX$622
136.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$81.2MUR 3,805
$40.13MX$694
102.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$130MUR 6,106
$79.7MX$1,379
63.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.8MUR 4,442
$86.5MX$1,496
9.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$508MUR 23.8K
$978MX$16.9K
-48.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$359MUR 16.8K
$470MX$8,140
-23.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$961MUR 45.0K
$1,651MX$28.6K
-41.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$709MUR 33.2K
$1,203MX$20.8K
-41.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,953MX$68.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,607MX$114.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$677MX$11.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
11.42
-41.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fond du Sac: July 25, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $508 in Fond du Sac and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $44.00 in Fond du Sac vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $232 vs $252, with Fond du Sac 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
Fond du Sac vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Fond du Sac?
Fond du Sac is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,591 in Fond du Sac and $1,890 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Fond du Sac and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $508 in Fond du Sac versus $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Fond du Sac and in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Fond du Sac and in Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,061 per month in Fond du Sac versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Fond du Sac or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,061 in Fond du Sac versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Fond du Sac but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Fond du Sac the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Fond du Sac or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Fond du Sac is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Fond du Sac or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Fond du Sac 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 Fond du Sac gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Fond du Sac vs other spots: cost of living compared