😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,691 in Fort Worth, TX versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,024 in Fort Worth, TX versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,358 in Fort Worth, TX versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Fort Worth, TX is roughly 114% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Fort Worth, TX is 101% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fort Worth, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.70$17.70
$11.99MX$210
47.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.1$61.1
$41.78MX$733
46.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.14$12.14
$10.75MX$189
12.93%
Cappuccino
$6.54$6.54
$3.50MX$61.3
86.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57$2.57
$1.45MX$25.41
77.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94$1.94
$0.88MX$15.52
120.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.92$4.92
$2.95MX$51.7
66.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.89$5.89
$4.51MX$79.1
30.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fort Worth, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.89$0.89
$1.43MX$25.12
-37.76%
White Bread(500g)
$3.28$3.28
$1.84MX$32.23
78.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.89$3.89
$1.57MX$27.51
147.77%
Eggs
$3.49$3.49
$2.51MX$44.06
39.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94$9.94
$8.28MX$145
20.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.50$15.50
$8.43MX$148
83.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.91$18.91
$10.68MX$187
77.06%
Apples(1kg)
$6.06$6.06
$2.61MX$45.76
132.18%
Banana(1kg)
$2.66$2.66
$1.44MX$25.22
84.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.92$3.92
$1.96MX$34.41
100.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.91$3.91
$2.09MX$36.74
87.08%
Potato(1kg)
$2.33$2.33
$1.85MX$32.47
25.95%
Onion(1kg)
$2.77$2.77
$2.17MX$38.02
27.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.26$2.26
$1.03MX$18.09
119.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.21$2.21
$1.07MX$18.84
106.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.87$8.87
$4.10MX$72.0
116.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.81$19.81
$10.17MX$178
94.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90$1.90
$1.68MX$29.38
13.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38$4.38
$2.53MX$44.31
73.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Fort Worth, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.16$3.16
$0.51MX$8.93
519.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$81.6$81.6
$26.04MX$457
213.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.06$3.06
$3.23MX$56.7
-5.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.77$1.77
$2.41MX$42.19
-26.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.60$23.60
$3.23MX$56.6
630.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.73$0.73
$1.32MX$23.17
-44.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2K$24.2K
$29.7KMX$520.9K
-18.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K$27.0K
$23.7KMX$415.0K
14.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fort Worth, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$232$232
$82.0MX$1,439
182.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$75.3$75.3
$22.95MX$403
228.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.7$76.7
$30.11MX$528
154.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fort Worth, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.27$36.27
$52.0MX$912
-30.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.46$27.46
$18.53MX$325
48.19%
Cinema Ticket
$13.24$13.24
$4.98MX$87.3
165.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fort Worth, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,827$1,827
$197MX$3,463
825.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.5K$23.5K
$5,336MX$93.6K
340.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fort Worth, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.8$60.8
$35.60MX$624
70.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.06$46.06
$40.33MX$707
14.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117$117
$78.8MX$1,381
48.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129$129
$88.9MX$1,560
45.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fort Worth, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,622$1,622
$947MX$16.6K
71.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,247$1,247
$474MX$8,314
163.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,697$2,697
$1,644MX$28.8K
64.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,283$2,283
$1,211MX$21.2K
88.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,105$4,105
$4,056MX$71.1K
1.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,858$1,858
$6,470MX$113.5K
-71.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fort Worth, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,409$4,409
$654MX$11.5K
574.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.59
11.42
-42.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fort Worth, TX: July 11, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,622 in Fort Worth, TX and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Fort Worth, TX pays 574% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $61.0 in Fort Worth, TX vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $423 vs $249 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 Worth, TX vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Fort Worth, TX and in Playa del Carmen?
Fort Worth, TX and Playa del Carmen differ by about 114% in total monthly costs ($2,691 vs $1,256 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Fort Worth, TX or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 574% higher in Fort Worth, TX, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Fort Worth, TX and in Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,622 in Fort Worth, TX versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Fort Worth, TX and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $1,827 in Fort Worth, TX versus $197 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 70% higher in Fort Worth, TX. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,691 in Fort Worth, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Fort Worth, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Fort Worth, TX and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Fort Worth, TX or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 114% less than in Fort Worth, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Fort Worth, TX vs other spots: cost of living compared