Cost of Living Comparison Between Fukuoka and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Fukuoka and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,221 per month in Fukuoka vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,934 per month in Fukuoka vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,647 per month in Fukuoka vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Fukuoka is about 6% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Fukuoka and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Fukuoka 11% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.34 ¥1,126

$11.96 MX$203

-38.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.73 ¥6,715

$47.38 MX$804

-7.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.84 ¥897

$11.75 MX$199

-50.30%

Cappuccino

$3.44 ¥528

$4.12 MX$70.0

-16.50%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.07 ¥165

$1.40 MX$23.74

-23.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 ¥107

$0.91 MX$15.48

-24.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.91 ¥600

$3.21 MX$54.4

21.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ¥343

$7.07 MX$120

-68.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ¥254

$1.68 MX$28.44

-1.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.95 ¥300

$2.15 MX$36.48

-9.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.52 ¥1,002

$1.77 MX$30.10

268.36%

Eggs

$2.26 ¥347

$2.82 MX$47.76

-19.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.52 ¥2,844

$9.20 MX$156

101.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.48 ¥842

$9.23 MX$157

-40.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.17 ¥2,943

$12.64 MX$214

51.66%

Apples (1kg)

$3.75 ¥576

$2.95 MX$50.1

27.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 ¥294

$1.58 MX$26.79

20.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.91 ¥446

$2.22 MX$37.70

31.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.35 ¥515

$2.36 MX$40.09

41.95%

Potato (1kg)

$2.29 ¥351

$1.99 MX$33.81

15.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.57 ¥394

$1.98 MX$33.58

29.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ¥167

$1.24 MX$21.04

-12.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 ¥151

$1.21 MX$20.55

-19.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.95 ¥606

$4.60 MX$78.1

-14.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.57 ¥1,010

$10.52 MX$178

-37.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 ¥258

$1.69 MX$28.70

-0.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 ¥286

$2.77 MX$47.06

-32.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 ¥253

$0.60 MX$10.22

175.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.79 ¥6,571

$29.70 MX$504

44.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.96 ¥608

$5.24 MX$88.8

-24.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 ¥327

$3.65 MX$61.9

-41.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.49 ¥2,839

$5.78 MX$98.1

219.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 ¥166

$1.54 MX$26.09

-29.87%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.0K ¥3.4M

$22.8K MX$386.8K

-3.46%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$18.1K ¥2.8M

$25.8K MX$437.9K

-29.89%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$189 ¥29.0K

$90.7 MX$1,538

108.56%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.84 ¥3,967

$25.19 MX$427

2.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.81 ¥5,192

$31.75 MX$539

6.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 ¥7,920

$68.8 MX$1,167

-25.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$11.15 ¥1,712

$4.86 MX$82.5

129.42%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$129 ¥19.9K

$226 MX$3,828

-42.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ¥2.0M

$4,194 MX$71.1K

204.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.12 ¥5,393

$47.38 MX$804

-25.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.57 ¥3,773

$43.45 MX$737

-43.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.9 ¥8,884

$80.2 MX$1,361

-27.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.42 ¥7,435

$91.4 MX$1,550

-47.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$479 ¥73.5K

$1,086 MX$18.4K

-55.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 ¥40.9K

$409 MX$6,933

-34.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,151 ¥176.8K

$1,972 MX$33.5K

-41.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$695 ¥106.8K

$1,281 MX$21.7K

-45.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,769 ¥885.8K

$4,046 MX$68.6K

42.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,546 ¥391.0K

$6,704 MX$113.7K

-62.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,787 ¥428.0K

$773 MX$13.1K

260.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.54

11.45

-86.55%

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

Last update for Fukuoka: September 8, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $479 in Fukuoka versus $1,086 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.

Salaries run about 260% higher in Fukuoka, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Fukuoka versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $324 in Fukuoka vs $278 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Fukuoka vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,221 in Fukuoka, $1,305 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 7% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,832 per month in Fukuoka and $1,958 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Fukuoka, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $129 per month in Fukuoka and $226 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 17% cheaper in Playa del Carmen – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Fukuoka, where all-in costs run around $1,221, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Fukuoka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Fukuoka has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,221 in Fukuoka to $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Fukuoka. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.