🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $616 in Fond du Sac versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,011 in Fond du Sac versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,405 in Fond du Sac versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Fond du Sac costs roughly 51% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Fond du Sac55% lower, Playa del Carmen7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.75MUR 273
$11.60MX$199
-50.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.13MUR 1,336
$47.11MX$809
-40.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.54MUR 358
$11.88MX$204
-36.53%
Cappuccino
$2.62MUR 124
$3.98MX$68.2
-34.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08MUR 51.4
$1.43MX$24.49
-24.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65MUR 31.08
$0.82MX$14.16
-20.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.09MUR 99.2
$3.19MX$54.7
-34.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MUR 124
$6.79MX$117
-61.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.55MUR 73.8
$1.68MX$28.76
-7.74%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79MUR 37.67
$2.20MX$37.71
-64.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.11MUR 52.6
$1.71MX$29.32
-35.09%
Eggs
$2.67MUR 127
$2.74MX$47.05
-2.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.25MUR 250
$9.58MX$164
-45.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.56MUR 312
$9.01MX$155
-27.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.13MUR 529
$12.81MX$220
-13.11%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MUR 136
$2.89MX$49.58
-1.04%
Banana(1kg)
$2.72MUR 129
$1.50MX$25.70
81.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.46MUR 69.4
$2.15MX$36.87
-32.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.99MUR 142
$2.26MX$38.79
32.30%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94MUR 44.48
$1.98MX$34.00
-52.53%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00MUR 47.34
$1.99MX$34.15
-49.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.75MUR 35.55
$1.23MX$21.18
-39.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84MUR 40.04
$1.20MX$20.54
-30.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.49MUR 308
$4.55MX$78.1
42.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.64MUR 410
$10.37MX$178
-16.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64MUR 77.8
$1.62MX$27.79
1.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37MUR 113
$2.88MX$49.44
-17.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.60MX$10.30
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.80MX$494
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.18MUR 199
$5.39MX$92.5
-22.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.12MUR 148
$3.73MX$64.0
-16.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.87MUR 991
$5.77MX$99.0
261.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.40MUR 66.3
$1.54MX$26.37
-9.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.2KMUR 1.7M
$22.5KMX$387.0K
60.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.4KMUR 1.5M
$26.1KMX$447.3K
20.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.86MUR 2,131
$91.4MX$1,569
-50.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.58MUR 408
$25.20MX$433
-65.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.15MUR 1,004
$31.24MX$536
-32.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.27MUR 820
$67.2MX$1,154
-74.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11MX$500
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.29MUR 299
$4.86MX$83.5
29.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$127MUR 6,030
$224MX$3,839
-43.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,616MUR 361.7K
$4,229MX$72.6K
80.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.7MUR 3,739
$47.10MX$808
67.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$74.6MUR 3,544
$44.29MX$760
68.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118MUR 5,616
$80.1MX$1,375
47.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.1MUR 3,757
$92.7MX$1,591
-14.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,063MX$18.2K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$390MX$6,698
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,149MX$36.9K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,272MX$21.8K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,001MX$68.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,502MX$111.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$758MX$13.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
11.45
-41.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fond du Sac: September 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $28.00 in Fond du Sac vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $220 vs $276 per month, with Fond du Sac 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
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, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 105% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $925 in Fond du Sac and $1,899 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.
How do food prices compare in Fond du Sac and in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 25% 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 $616 per month in Fond du Sac versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen – a 105% 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 $616 in Fond du Sac versus $1,266 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 105% 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