🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $905 in Francisco Morato versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,486 in Francisco Morato versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,066 in Francisco Morato versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Francisco Morato costs roughly 28% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Francisco Morato34% lower, Playa del Carmen7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Francisco Morato
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.76R$34.74
$11.60MX$200
-41.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.23R$202
$47.11MX$811
-16.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.04R$41.34
$11.88MX$205
-32.32%
Cappuccino
$2.07R$10.64
$3.98MX$68.5
-47.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67R$8.60
$1.43MX$24.57
16.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19R$6.12
$0.82MX$14.20
45.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96R$15.22
$3.19MX$54.9
-7.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66R$23.95
$6.79MX$117
-31.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Francisco Morato
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.16R$5.99
$1.68MX$28.85
-30.95%
White Bread(500g)
$1.99R$10.24
$2.20MX$37.83
-9.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.15R$5.92
$1.71MX$29.41
-32.75%
Eggs
$2.69R$13.84
$2.74MX$47.20
-1.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.50R$43.69
$9.58MX$165
-11.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.25R$21.85
$9.01MX$155
-52.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.70R$55.0
$12.81MX$221
-16.47%
Apples(1kg)
$2.76R$14.19
$2.89MX$49.74
-4.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81R$9.33
$1.50MX$25.78
20.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.75R$9.00
$2.15MX$36.98
-18.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.82R$9.35
$2.26MX$38.91
-19.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38R$7.09
$1.98MX$34.10
-30.30%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34R$6.90
$1.99MX$34.26
-32.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89R$4.55
$1.23MX$21.25
-27.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71R$3.67
$1.20MX$20.60
-40.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.70R$13.90
$4.55MX$78.3
-40.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.61R$44.29
$10.37MX$179
-16.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63R$8.37
$1.62MX$27.88
0.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32R$22.21
$2.88MX$49.60
50.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Francisco Morato
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.98R$5.06
$0.60MX$10.34
63.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.60R$204
$28.80MX$496
37.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.29R$6.63
$5.39MX$92.8
-76.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34R$6.87
$3.73MX$64.2
-64.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.38R$48.26
$5.77MX$99.3
62.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22R$6.29
$1.54MX$26.45
-20.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8KR$122.4K
$22.5KMX$388.3K
5.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4KR$166.8K
$26.1KMX$448.7K
24.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Francisco Morato
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.08R$232
$91.4MX$1,573
-50.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.16R$77.9
$25.20MX$434
-39.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.70R$91.0
$31.24MX$538
-43.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Francisco Morato
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.26R$120
$67.2MX$1,157
-65.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.11R$145
$29.11MX$501
-3.44%
Cinema Ticket
$7.64R$39.28
$4.86MX$83.7
57.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Francisco Morato
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$421R$2,163
$224MX$3,851
88.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,339R$37.7K
$4,229MX$72.8K
73.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Francisco Morato
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.2R$284
$47.10MX$811
17.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.3R$295
$44.29MX$763
29.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.6R$476
$80.1MX$1,379
15.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.0R$422
$92.7MX$1,596
-11.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Francisco Morato
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$347R$1,786
$1,063MX$18.3K
-67.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$231R$1,188
$390MX$6,719
-40.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$646R$3,320
$2,149MX$37.0K
-69.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$460R$2,365
$1,272MX$21.9K
-63.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,791R$9,210
$4,001MX$68.9K
-55.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,299R$6,680
$6,502MX$112.0K
-80.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Francisco Morato
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$758MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.12
11.45
-2.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Francisco Morato: September 14, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $347 in Francisco Morato and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Francisco Morato vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $219 vs $276 per month, with Francisco Morato 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
Francisco Morato vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Francisco Morato?
Francisco Morato is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,358 in Francisco Morato and $1,899 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 Francisco Morato and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $347 in Francisco Morato versus $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Francisco Morato or in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Francisco Morato – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Francisco Morato and in Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $905 per month in Francisco Morato versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Francisco Morato or in Playa del Carmen?
At $905 in Francisco Morato versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Francisco Morato but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Francisco Morato the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Francisco Morato or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Francisco Morato 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Francisco Morato gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Francisco Morato vs other spots: cost of living compared