🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,065 in Fond du Sac versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,731 in Fond du Sac versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,397 in Fond du Sac versus $2,980 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 Sac21% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.58MUR 310
$11.87MX$204
-44.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.78MUR 2,062
$42.90MX$736
2.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.98MUR 328
$10.65MX$183
-34.46%
Cappuccino
$2.64MUR 124
$3.45MX$59.2
-23.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02MUR 48.04
$1.50MX$25.81
-32.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60MUR 28.31
$0.95MX$16.28
-36.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.26MUR 106
$3.03MX$51.9
-25.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37MUR 159
$4.61MX$79.1
-26.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MUR 76.2
$1.38MX$23.61
17.39%
White Bread(500g)
$0.65MUR 30.74
$1.85MX$31.70
-64.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.28MUR 60.1
$1.61MX$27.65
-20.50%
Eggs
$2.33MUR 110
$2.59MX$44.51
-10.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.03MUR 567
$8.26MX$142
45.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.24MUR 294
$8.37MX$144
-25.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.86MUR 606
$10.66MX$183
20.64%
Apples(1kg)
$2.01MUR 94.5
$2.63MX$45.12
-23.57%
Banana(1kg)
$2.02MUR 95.3
$1.49MX$25.53
35.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50MUR 70.7
$1.92MX$32.94
-21.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.64MUR 124
$2.09MX$35.81
26.32%
Potato(1kg)
$0.99MUR 46.50
$1.86MX$31.88
-46.77%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99MUR 46.81
$2.26MX$38.81
-56.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.79MUR 37.11
$1.06MX$18.23
-25.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81MUR 38.32
$1.09MX$18.67
-25.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.48MUR 305
$4.15MX$71.2
56.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.25MUR 388
$10.39MX$178
-20.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MUR 81.4
$1.72MX$29.59
0.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16MUR 102
$2.61MX$44.85
-17.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.99MUR 46.59
$0.54MX$9.30
83.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.94MX$462
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.51MUR 212
$3.13MX$53.7
44.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.71MUR 128
$2.51MX$43.09
7.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.60MUR 923
$3.15MX$54.1
522.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.45MUR 68.2
$1.27MX$21.88
14.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3KMUR 1.7M
$30.4KMX$521.3K
16.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.9KMUR 1.4M
$23.6KMX$404.5K
22.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$49.87MUR 2,348
$83.0MX$1,425
-39.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.53MUR 872
$22.71MX$390
-18.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.89MUR 1,596
$29.46MX$506
15.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.52MUR 1,814
$51.0MX$875
-24.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.33MX$315
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.01MUR 283
$4.93MX$84.5
21.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$153MUR 7,206
$197MX$3,386
-22.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,977MUR 187.3K
$5,280MX$90.6K
-24.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.5MUR 4,073
$36.90MX$633
134.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$80.5MUR 3,791
$39.89MX$685
101.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$131MUR 6,148
$80.0MX$1,373
63.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.4MUR 4,541
$89.5MX$1,536
7.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$505MUR 23.8K
$956MX$16.4K
-47.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$357MUR 16.8K
$477MX$8,189
-25.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MUR 45.0K
$1,646MX$28.3K
-41.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$714MUR 33.6K
$1,225MX$21.0K
-41.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,918MX$67.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,459MX$110.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fond du Sac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$667MX$11.4K
-
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $505 in Fond du Sac and $956 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 $232 vs $250, 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, 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 $1,597 in Fond du Sac and $1,906 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: $505 in Fond du Sac versus $956 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 8% 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 $1,065 per month in Fond du Sac versus $1,271 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 $1,065 in Fond du Sac versus $1,271 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