🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,130 in Fukuyama versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,811 in Fukuyama versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,492 in Fukuyama versus $3,374 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Fukuyama costs roughly 13% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Fukuyama18% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fukuyama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.44¥1,163
$11.71MX$198
-36.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.00¥4,842
$46.59MX$787
-33.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.13¥801
$11.65MX$197
-55.97%
Cappuccino
$3.35¥523
$4.09MX$69.2
-18.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83¥129
$1.37MX$23.23
-39.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52¥81.7
$0.83MX$14.09
-37.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.94¥302
$3.35MX$56.7
-42.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20¥499
$6.91MX$117
-53.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fukuyama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.97¥152
$1.73MX$29.19
-43.93%
White Bread(500g)
$0.84¥132
$2.26MX$38.20
-62.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.86¥915
$1.77MX$29.90
231.07%
Eggs
$2.07¥323
$2.73MX$46.18
-24.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.75¥1,367
$9.18MX$155
-4.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.39¥530
$8.92MX$151
-62.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.85¥1,695
$12.60MX$213
-13.89%
Apples(1kg)
$5.11¥798
$3.02MX$51.1
69.21%
Banana(1kg)
$2.27¥355
$1.57MX$26.54
44.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.11¥798
$2.13MX$35.92
139.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.63¥567
$2.26MX$38.27
60.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84¥287
$2.00MX$33.87
-8.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.68¥263
$2.06MX$34.89
-18.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.96¥150
$1.18MX$19.94
-18.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39¥61.7
$1.20MX$20.35
-67.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.94¥616
$4.63MX$78.3
-14.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.57¥1,183
$10.69MX$181
-29.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.56¥244
$1.62MX$27.37
-3.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20¥500
$2.88MX$48.69
11.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Fukuyama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.45¥227
$0.57MX$9.69
154.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$56.7¥8,859
$29.83MX$504
90.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.25¥508
$5.45MX$92.1
-40.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.79¥591
$3.70MX$62.6
2.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.29¥3,170
$5.98MX$101
239.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.00¥157
$1.55MX$26.25
-35.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.3K¥1.9M
$22.3KMX$377.3K
-44.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.2K¥2.4M
$25.9KMX$438.5K
-41.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fukuyama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$99.7¥15.6K
$89.1MX$1,506
11.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.06¥2,977
$25.04MX$423
-23.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.00¥4,530
$31.50MX$532
-7.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fukuyama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.74¥7,770
$67.8MX$1,145
-26.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$1.93¥301
$28.92MX$489
-93.33%
Cinema Ticket
$12.39¥1,935
$5.05MX$85.3
145.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fukuyama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$650¥101.6K
$225MX$3,802
189.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,566¥1.0M
$4,222MX$71.4K
55.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fukuyama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90¥5,765
$47.44MX$802
-22.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.71¥4,798
$44.98MX$760
-31.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$63.6¥9,938
$82.0MX$1,386
-22.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100¥15.7K
$92.1MX$1,556
9.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fukuyama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$486¥75.9K
$1,069MX$18.1K
-54.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$326¥50.9K
$405MX$6,850
-19.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$929¥145.1K
$1,935MX$32.7K
-52.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730¥114.0K
$1,301MX$22.0K
-43.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,258¥665.2K
$3,995MX$67.5K
6.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,863¥291.0K
$6,626MX$112.0K
-71.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fukuyama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,354¥211.5K
$749MX$12.7K
80.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1
11.45
-91.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fukuyama: August 30, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $486 in Fukuyama and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Fukuyama pays 81% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $31.00 in Fukuyama vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $277 per month, with Fukuyama 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
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 14% 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 81% higher in Fukuyama, 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 compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $486 in Fukuyama versus $1,069 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $650 in Fukuyama versus $225 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Fukuyama or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,130 in Fukuyama versus $1,293 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 $1,130 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 14% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.