Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Scott, KS and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,480 in Fort Scott, KS, rent and utilities included – about $15,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Fort Scott, KS
🇺🇸 United States
$2,480
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Fort Scott, KS and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Fort Scott, KS and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,480 per month in Fort Scott, KS vs $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Fort Scott, KS $2,480
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

A couple spends around $3,004 per month in Fort Scott, KS vs $2,102 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Fort Scott, KS $3,004
  • Playa del Carmen $2,102

A family of three spends $3,527 per month in Fort Scott, KS vs $3,000 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Fort Scott, KS $3,527
  • Playa del Carmen $3,000

Fort Scott, KS costs about 106% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Fort Scott, KS sits 83% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fort Scott, KS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.44 $16.44
$10.86 MX$201
51.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.7 $77.7
$44.21 MX$817
75.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.47 $9.47
$11.76 MX$217
-19.47%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$3.68 MX$68.0
52.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$1.34 MX$24.79
58.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 $1.63
$0.82 MX$15.24
98.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.15 $6.15
$3.06 MX$56.6
100.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.80 $6.80
$4.94 MX$91.2
37.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fort Scott, KS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 $0.97
$1.47 MX$27.17
-34.01%
White Bread (500g)
$4.02 $4.02
$2.22 MX$40.95
81.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.92 $5.92
$1.48 MX$27.32
300.00%
Eggs
$5.34 $5.34
$2.49 MX$45.99
114.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 $8.21
$7.52 MX$139
9.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.73 $8.73
$7.96 MX$147
9.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.60 $13.60
$12.57 MX$232
8.19%
Apples (1kg)
$4.59 $4.59
$2.78 MX$51.3
65.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.43 MX$26.37
6.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.70 $2.70
$2.62 MX$48.37
3.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.61 $4.61
$2.14 MX$39.49
115.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 $1.92
$2.02 MX$37.38
-4.95%
Onion (1kg)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.99 MX$36.74
24.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.14 MX$21.01
32.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$1.20 MX$22.18
67.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.07 $9.07
$4.26 MX$78.7
112.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.64 $18.64
$10.02 MX$185
86.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$1.54 MX$28.41
62.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 $4.37
$2.66 MX$49.17
64.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Fort Scott, KS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.84 $1.84
$0.53 MX$9.73
247.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$27.51 MX$508
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 $3.08
$4.90 MX$90.6
-37.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.99 $1.99
$3.43 MX$63.5
-41.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.87 $31.87
$5.38 MX$99.4
492.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.00 $1.00
$1.45 MX$26.76
-31.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$21.2K MX$391.0K
28.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K $26.0K
$23.0K MX$425.3K
12.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fort Scott, KS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 $176
$85.4 MX$1,577
106.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.6 $55.6
$23.46 MX$434
136.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.2 $63.2
$28.43 MX$525
122.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fort Scott, KS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.63 $38.63
$62.2 MX$1,149
-37.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.68 MX$530
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.05 $10.05
$5.10 MX$94.3
97.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fort Scott, KS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,056 $1,056
$201 MX$3,715
425.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.9K $25.9K
$3,947 MX$72.9K
556.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fort Scott, KS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.1 $59.1
$44.39 MX$820
33.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.6 $50.6
$41.35 MX$764
22.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$72.7 MX$1,344
52.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 $120
$89.6 MX$1,656
34.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fort Scott, KS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,625 $1,625
$979 MX$18.1K
65.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,297 $1,297
$373 MX$6,887
247.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,552 $2,552
$1,681 MX$31.1K
51.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$878 $878
$1,095 MX$20.2K
-19.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,522 $2,522
$3,949 MX$73.0K
-36.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,721 $2,721
$6,137 MX$113.4K
-55.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fort Scott, KS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$738 MX$13.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.77
11.45
-40.87%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Fort Scott, KS: October 20, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Fort Scott, KS
$1.3K
Playa del Carmen
$373 71.3% $924
Groceries & Markets
Fort Scott, KS
$369
Playa del Carmen
$258 30.1% $111
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fort Scott, KS
$295
Playa del Carmen
$137 53.4% $158
Eating Out
Fort Scott, KS
$287
Playa del Carmen
$200 30.2% $87
Clothing & Footwear
Fort Scott, KS
$153
Playa del Carmen
$112 27.2% $42
Sport & Entertainment
Fort Scott, KS
$59
Playa del Carmen
$72 23.3% $14
Getting Around
Fort Scott, KS
$20 *
Playa del Carmen
$52 154% $31

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,625 in Fort Scott, KS versus $979 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $78.0 in Fort Scott, KS versus $44.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $369 vs $258 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Fort Scott, KS
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
07:26 7:26 AM
07:26 7:26 AM
Same time as Fort Scott, KS
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
7,700
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Fort Scott, KS Playa del Carmen 2,050 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Fort Scott, KS
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Fort Scott, KS vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Fort Scott, KS or Playa del Carmen?
Fort Scott, KS costs about 106% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Fort Scott, KS and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,721 per month in Fort Scott, KS and $1,806 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Fort Scott, KS or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Fort Scott, KS compared to Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,480 in Fort Scott, KS and $1,204 in Playa del Carmen. That's a gap of about 106%.
How do childcare costs compare in Fort Scott, KS and in Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $1,056 per month in Fort Scott, KS and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Fort Scott, KS or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Fort Scott, KS at $2,480. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fort Scott, KS it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Fort Scott, KS or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,204 versus $2,480 in Fort Scott, KS. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Fort Scott, KS or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Fort Scott, KS makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Fort Scott, KS vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?