🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,225 in Fukuyama versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,901 in Fukuyama versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,577 in Fukuyama versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Fukuyama costs roughly 6% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Fukuyama9% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fukuyama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.55¥1,687
$11.73MX$203
-10.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.33¥5,651
$41.62MX$721
-15.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.61¥898
$10.64MX$184
-47.27%
Cappuccino
$3.37¥538
$3.52MX$61.0
-4.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88¥141
$1.51MX$26.17
-41.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75¥120
$0.97MX$16.87
-22.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49¥558
$2.95MX$51.1
18.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.61¥1,057
$4.45MX$77.2
48.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fukuyama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03¥164
$1.38MX$23.97
-25.36%
White Bread(500g)
$0.88¥141
$1.89MX$32.78
-53.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.13¥500
$1.64MX$28.37
90.85%
Eggs
$2.23¥357
$2.51MX$43.42
-11.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.34¥1,493
$8.34MX$145
11.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.88¥620
$8.34MX$145
-53.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.68¥2,188
$10.73MX$186
27.49%
Apples(1kg)
$5.67¥907
$2.60MX$45.12
118.08%
Banana(1kg)
$2.53¥404
$1.46MX$25.25
73.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.34¥1,014
$1.90MX$32.94
233.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.97¥636
$2.08MX$35.98
90.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.65¥264
$1.78MX$30.77
-7.30%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27¥364
$2.19MX$37.87
3.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05¥168
$1.04MX$18.02
0.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43¥69.4
$1.08MX$18.66
-60.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13¥661
$4.08MX$70.7
1.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.53¥1,205
$10.32MX$179
-27.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71¥274
$1.71MX$29.67
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55¥568
$2.58MX$44.63
37.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Fukuyama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.67¥266
$0.51MX$8.83
227.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$56.3¥9,002
$26.46MX$459
112.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.38¥541
$3.26MX$56.5
3.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.36¥537
$2.49MX$43.17
34.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.55¥2,807
$3.25MX$56.3
440.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11¥178
$1.31MX$22.65
-15.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.9K¥2.2M
$30.3KMX$524.7K
-53.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.3K¥2.8M
$23.4KMX$406.0K
-26.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fukuyama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$110¥17.7K
$82.9MX$1,436
33.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96¥3,352
$22.22MX$385
-5.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.09¥5,293
$29.34MX$508
12.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fukuyama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.4¥9,013
$51.6MX$895
9.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.76¥2,201
$18.32MX$317
-24.89%
Cinema Ticket
$13.08¥2,092
$5.07MX$87.8
157.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fukuyama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$374¥59.8K
$201MX$3,480
86.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,406¥1.2M
$5,212MX$90.3K
42.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fukuyama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.57¥6,649
$36.92MX$640
12.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.45¥5,510
$39.79MX$689
-13.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.8¥11.2K
$78.5MX$1,360
-11.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103¥16.5K
$87.1MX$1,509
18.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fukuyama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476¥76.1K
$973MX$16.9K
-51.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$329¥52.6K
$468MX$8,105
-29.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$869¥138.9K
$1,641MX$28.4K
-47.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$667¥106.6K
$1,221MX$21.2K
-45.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,046¥807.1K
$3,946MX$68.4K
27.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,234¥357.3K
$6,498MX$112.6K
-65.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fukuyama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,360¥217.5K
$664MX$11.5K
104.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1
11.42
-91.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fukuyama: May 30, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Fukuyama and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Fukuyama pays 105% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Fukuyama vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $267 vs $249, with Playa del Carmen cheaper for home cooking.
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
Fukuyama vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Fukuyama or Playa del Carmen?
Fukuyama wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Fukuyama the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Fukuyama or Playa del Carmen?
Fukuyama pays 105% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Fukuyama vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Fukuyama versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Fukuyama and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $374 in Fukuyama versus $201 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Fukuyama or Playa del Carmen?
Shoppers in Playa del Carmen pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Fukuyama or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,225 in Fukuyama versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Fukuyama but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Fukuyama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Fukuyama or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Fukuyama delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,225 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Fukuyama hard to pass up.
How safe is Fukuyama compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Fukuyama 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Fukuyama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.