Cost of Living Comparison Between Foster City, CA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Foster City, CA and Playa del Carmen

😐 Solo nomad: Foster City, CA is 38.5% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 222.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Foster City, CA is 105.7% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 152% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Foster City, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.05 $15.05
$11.99 MX$227
25.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5 $69.5
$42.47 MX$803
63.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.1 $11.1
$10.47 MX$198
6.02%
Cappuccino
$4.94 $4.94
$3.6 MX$68.2
37.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 $3.33
$1.44 MX$27.16
131.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.5 $2.5
$0.89 MX$16.79
180.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.2 $9.2
$3.09 MX$58.5
197.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.89 $10.89
$4.58 MX$86.6
137.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Foster City, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.38 MX$26.04
-23.91%
White Bread (500g)
$3.33 $3.33
$1.85 MX$34.9
80.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 $2.24
$1.57 MX$29.68
42.68%
Eggs
$3.06 $3.06
$2.55 MX$48.3
20.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.24 $16.24
$8.61 MX$163
88.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.23 $11.23
$8.54 MX$161
31.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.13 $20.13
$10.98 MX$208
83.33%
Apples (1kg)
$6.21 $6.21
$2.72 MX$51.4
128.31%
Banana (1kg)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.51 MX$28.57
63.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.75 $4.75
$1.88 MX$35.63
152.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$2.19 MX$41.42
48.40%
Potato (1kg)
$3.34 $3.34
$1.87 MX$35.3
78.61%
Onion (1kg)
$4.36 $4.36
$2.19 MX$41.37
99.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.03 $3.03
$1.07 MX$20.23
183.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.09 MX$20.64
33.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.38 $11.38
$3.96 MX$74.9
187.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.99 $11.99
$8.86 MX$167
35.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 $2.33
$1.72 MX$32.53
35.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 $3.31
$2.61 MX$49.37
26.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Foster City, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.64 $3.64
$0.52 MX$9.74
600.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$191 $191
$26.59 MX$503
617.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.54 $3.54
$3.24 MX$61.2
9.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.85 $1.85
$2.38 MX$44.94
-22.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.16 $30.16
$3.11 MX$58.7
869.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 $1.28
$1.31 MX$24.85
-2.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K $29.9K
$30.3K MX$573K
-1.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K $26.5K
$24K MX$453.6K
10.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Foster City, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$270 $270
$84.2 MX$1,592
219.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.14 $49.14
$22.14 MX$419
121.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.9 $68.9
$30.14 MX$570
128.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Foster City, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.62 $42.62
$52 MX$983
-18.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.72 MX$354
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.35 $15.35
$5.07 MX$95.9
202.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Foster City, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,978 $1,978
$200 MX$3,787
887.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.4K $26.4K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
395.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Foster City, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.18 $46.18
$35.74 MX$676
29.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.75 $29.75
$39.8 MX$753
-25.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.7 $65.7
$79 MX$1,493
-16.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.86 $49.86
$88.4 MX$1,671
-43.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Foster City, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,056 $3,056
$965 MX$18.3K
216.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,558 $2,558
$474 MX$8,968
439.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,515 $4,515
$1,653 MX$31.2K
173.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,522 $4,522
$1,202 MX$22.7K
276.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.8K $10.8K
$3,081 MX$58.3K
250.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,784 $9,784
$7,529 MX$142.3K
29.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Foster City, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,087 $7,087
$792 MX$15K
795.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
11.42
-42.99%

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

Last update for Foster City, CA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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