🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,083 in Fond du Sac versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,740 in Fond du Sac versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,396 in Fond du Sac versus $3,082 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 Sac19% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.73MUR 315
$11.94MX$208
-43.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.54MUR 2,035
$42.75MX$744
1.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.19MUR 336
$10.59MX$184
-32.11%
Cappuccino
$2.68MUR 125
$3.62MX$63.0
-25.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01MUR 47.45
$1.47MX$25.54
-31.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55MUR 25.93
$0.94MX$16.41
-41.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22MUR 104
$3.09MX$53.8
-28.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33MUR 156
$4.46MX$77.6
-25.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MUR 78.6
$1.43MX$24.80
17.48%
White Bread(500g)
$0.65MUR 30.26
$1.88MX$32.79
-65.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.26MUR 59.0
$1.63MX$28.34
-22.70%
Eggs
$2.32MUR 108
$2.64MX$45.99
-12.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.95MUR 558
$8.21MX$143
45.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.03MUR 282
$8.29MX$144
-27.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.56MUR 587
$11.10MX$193
13.15%
Apples(1kg)
$2.08MUR 97.3
$2.65MX$46.14
-21.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.96MUR 91.8
$1.50MX$26.11
30.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.44MUR 67.5
$1.99MX$34.59
-27.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75MUR 129
$2.08MX$36.13
32.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02MUR 47.78
$1.79MX$31.11
-43.02%
Onion(1kg)
$0.95MUR 44.62
$2.18MX$37.87
-56.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84MUR 39.29
$1.08MX$18.73
-22.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74MUR 34.72
$1.04MX$18.04
-28.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.41MUR 300
$3.97MX$69.1
61.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.75MUR 409
$10.20MX$178
-14.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MUR 80.3
$1.73MX$30.04
-0.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24MUR 105
$2.50MX$43.46
-10.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.04MUR 48.39
$0.52MX$9.02
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.97MX$469
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29MUR 201
$3.14MX$54.7
36.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.70MUR 126
$2.40MX$41.80
12.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.73MUR 922
$3.09MX$53.7
538.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.46MUR 68.4
$1.27MX$22.16
14.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4KMUR 1.7M
$30.9KMX$537.3K
17.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7KMUR 1.3M
$23.3KMX$405.7K
23.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$48.90MUR 2,286
$82.0MX$1,427
-40.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.06MUR 844
$22.45MX$391
-19.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.97MUR 1,588
$29.66MX$516
14.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.44MUR 1,797
$51.9MX$903
-25.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.67MX$325
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.95MUR 278
$4.97MX$86.5
19.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$152MUR 7,092
$198MX$3,442
-23.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,898MUR 182.2K
$5,273MX$91.7K
-26.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.8MUR 4,012
$36.34MX$632
136.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$80.8MUR 3,777
$40.05MX$697
101.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$134MUR 6,257
$79.9MX$1,390
67.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.2MUR 4,451
$88.9MX$1,547
7.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$516MUR 24.1K
$963MX$16.8K
-46.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$353MUR 16.5K
$465MX$8,086
-24.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$957MUR 44.8K
$1,596MX$27.8K
-40.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$713MUR 33.3K
$1,209MX$21.0K
-41.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,942MX$68.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,448MX$112.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$720MX$12.5K
-
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: April 28, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $516 in Fond du Sac and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $44.00 in Fond du Sac vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $231 vs $251, 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 $1,625 in Fond du Sac and $1,930 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: $516 in Fond du Sac versus $963 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 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,083 per month in Fond du Sac versus $1,287 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 Fond du Sac or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,083 in Fond du Sac versus $1,287 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