Cost of Living Comparison Between Fullerton, CA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Fullerton, CA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,383 per month in Fullerton, CA vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,196 per month in Fullerton, CA vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,008 per month in Fullerton, CA vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Fullerton, CA costs about 161% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Fullerton, CA sits 152% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.15 $25.15

$11.73 MX$203

114.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.0 $84.0

$41.62 MX$719

101.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.31 $11.31

$10.64 MX$184

6.30%

Cappuccino

$5.42 $5.42

$3.52 MX$60.8

53.98%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$1.51 MX$26.09

81.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.97 MX$16.82

109.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.28 $7.28

$2.95 MX$51.0

146.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.62 $8.62

$4.45 MX$77.0

93.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.38 MX$23.90

-13.77%

White Bread (500g)

$4.00 $4.00

$1.89 MX$32.69

111.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$1.64 MX$28.29

152.44%

Eggs

$4.38 $4.38

$2.51 MX$43.30

74.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.87 $10.87

$8.34 MX$144

30.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.79 $8.79

$8.34 MX$144

5.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.80 $14.80

$10.73 MX$185

37.93%

Apples (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$2.60 MX$45.00

30.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.46 MX$25.18

31.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$1.90 MX$32.84

99.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$2.08 MX$35.88

169.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$1.78 MX$30.68

83.71%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.19 MX$37.76

48.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.04 MX$17.97

43.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.08 MX$18.60

95.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.07 $11.07

$4.08 MX$70.5

171.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.27 $15.27

$10.32 MX$178

47.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.71 MX$29.59

3.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.65 $4.65

$2.58 MX$44.50

80.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.29 $2.29

$0.51 MX$8.81

349.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.3 $63.3

$26.46 MX$457

139.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.05 $4.05

$3.26 MX$56.4

24.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$2.49 MX$43.05

-33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.28 $32.28

$3.25 MX$56.1

893.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.31 MX$22.59

-3.05%

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

$24.2K $24.2K

$30.3K MX$523.2K

-19.97%

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

$24.1K $24.1K

$23.4K MX$404.9K

2.80%

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

$198 $198

$82.9 MX$1,432

138.95%

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

$49.86 $49.86

$22.22 MX$384

124.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.6 $65.6

$29.34 MX$507

123.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.74 $39.74

$51.6 MX$892

-23.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$14.07 $14.07

$5.07 MX$87.5

177.51%

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

$1,378 $1,378

$201 MX$3,470

585.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$5,212 MX$90.1K

656.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.3 $70.3

$36.92 MX$638

90.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.06 $35.06

$39.79 MX$688

-11.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.9 $83.9

$78.5 MX$1,356

7.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$87.1 MX$1,505

35.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,625 $2,625

$973 MX$16.8K

169.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,017 $2,017

$468 MX$8,082

331.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,887 $3,887

$1,641 MX$28.4K

136.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,012 $4,012

$1,221 MX$21.1K

228.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,437 $5,437

$3,946 MX$68.2K

37.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,607 $4,607

$664 MX$11.5K

593.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.58

11.42

-42.38%

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

Last update for Fullerton, CA: May 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,625 in Fullerton, CA versus $973 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 594% higher in Fullerton, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $84.0 in Fullerton, CA versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $375 vs $249 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Fullerton, CA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,383 in Fullerton, CA, $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 161% apart. Fullerton, CA costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,075 per month in Fullerton, CA and $1,945 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 Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $1,378 per month in Fullerton, CA and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 50% more in Fullerton, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Fullerton, CA at $3,383. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fullerton, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,297 in Playa del Carmen to $3,383 in Fullerton, CA. 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 Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Fullerton, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.