Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Wellington and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Wellington and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,002 in Fort Wellington versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,677 in Fort Wellington versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,352 in Fort Wellington versus $3,362 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Fort Wellington costs roughly 23% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Fort Wellington 27% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fort Wellington
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.91 GYD 3,725
$11.96 MX$203
49.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.6 GYD 14.9K
$47.38 MX$804
51.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.60 GYD 1,996
$11.75 MX$199
-18.30%
Cappuccino
$5.69 GYD 1,183
$4.12 MX$70.0
38.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21 GYD 251
$1.40 MX$23.74
-13.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 GYD 135
$0.91 MX$15.48
-28.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.86 GYD 387
$3.21 MX$54.4
-42.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 GYD 704
$7.07 MX$120
-52.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fort Wellington
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.16 GYD 657
$1.68 MX$28.44
88.10%
White Bread (500g)
$2.07 GYD 430
$2.15 MX$36.48
-3.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.01 GYD 417
$1.77 MX$30.10
13.56%
Eggs
$4.00 GYD 831
$2.82 MX$47.76
41.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.73 GYD 3,273
$9.20 MX$156
70.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.86 GYD 1,426
$9.23 MX$157
-25.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.82 GYD 1,835
$12.64 MX$214
-30.22%
Apples (1kg)
$8.19 GYD 1,702
$2.95 MX$50.1
177.63%
Banana (1kg)
$3.85 GYD 801
$1.58 MX$26.79
143.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.11 GYD 854
$2.22 MX$37.70
85.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.21 GYD 1,500
$2.36 MX$40.09
205.51%
Potato (1kg)
$2.37 GYD 492
$1.99 MX$33.81
19.10%
Onion (1kg)
$3.12 GYD 649
$1.98 MX$33.58
57.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.99 GYD 623
$1.24 MX$21.04
141.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 GYD 338
$1.21 MX$20.55
34.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.27 GYD 680
$4.60 MX$78.1
-28.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.97 GYD 3,529
$10.52 MX$178
61.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 GYD 374
$1.69 MX$28.70
6.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 GYD 524
$2.77 MX$47.06
-9.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Fort Wellington
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.60 MX$10.22
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$29.70 MX$504
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.39 GYD 914
$5.24 MX$88.8
-16.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.45 GYD 510
$3.65 MX$61.9
-32.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.03 GYD 2,502
$5.78 MX$98.1
108.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 GYD 215
$1.54 MX$26.09
-33.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K GYD 5.7M
$22.8K MX$386.8K
19.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1K GYD 4.8M
$25.8K MX$437.9K
-10.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fort Wellington
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$119 GYD 24.7K
$90.7 MX$1,538
30.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.22 GYD 4,414
$25.19 MX$427
-15.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.79 GYD 8,899
$31.75 MX$539
34.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fort Wellington
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$68.8 MX$1,167
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.37 MX$498
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.40 GYD 1,331
$4.86 MX$82.5
31.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fort Wellington
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,009 GYD 209.8K
$226 MX$3,828
346.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.9K GYD 3.9M
$4,194 MX$71.1K
349.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fort Wellington
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.63 GYD 7,826
$47.38 MX$804
-20.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.65 GYD 8,661
$43.45 MX$737
-4.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$134 GYD 27.8K
$80.2 MX$1,361
66.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 GYD 17.8K
$91.4 MX$1,550
-6.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fort Wellington
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,086 MX$18.4K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$409 MX$6,933
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,972 MX$33.5K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,281 MX$21.7K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,046 MX$68.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,704 MX$113.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fort Wellington
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$967 GYD 201.1K
$773 MX$13.1K
25.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.94
11.45
-39.39%

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

Last update for Fort Wellington: September 5, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Fort Wellington pays 25% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $72.0 in Fort Wellington vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $394 vs $278 per month, with Playa del Carmen 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
Fort Wellington vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Fort Wellington?
Fort Wellington is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 30% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Fort Wellington or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 25% higher in Fort Wellington, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,009 in Fort Wellington versus $226 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Fort Wellington or in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Fort Wellington – a meal for two runs $72.0 versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Fort Wellington or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,002 in Fort Wellington versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Fort Wellington but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Fort Wellington the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Fort Wellington or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Fort Wellington 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, Fort Wellington or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Fort Wellington 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 Fort Wellington gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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