🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $877 in Passo Fundo versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,443 in Passo Fundo versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,010 in Passo Fundo versus $3,362 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Passo Fundo costs roughly 33% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Passo Fundo36% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Passo Fundo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.86R$30.05
$11.96MX$203
-51.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.52R$162
$47.38MX$804
-33.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.71R$34.38
$11.75MX$199
-42.89%
Cappuccino
$1.99R$10.22
$4.12MX$70.0
-51.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37R$7.02
$1.40MX$23.74
-2.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83R$4.26
$0.91MX$15.48
-8.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.31R$11.84
$3.21MX$54.4
-28.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85R$14.62
$7.07MX$120
-59.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Passo Fundo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00R$5.13
$1.68MX$28.44
-40.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.60R$8.19
$2.15MX$36.48
-25.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.81R$4.15
$1.77MX$30.10
-54.24%
Eggs
$2.37R$12.14
$2.82MX$47.76
-15.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.10R$51.8
$9.20MX$156
9.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.71R$24.17
$9.23MX$157
-48.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.74R$49.90
$12.64MX$214
-22.94%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32R$11.89
$2.95MX$50.1
-21.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.20R$6.17
$1.58MX$26.79
-24.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.94R$4.80
$2.22MX$37.70
-57.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.29R$6.64
$2.36MX$40.09
-45.34%
Potato(1kg)
$1.19R$6.08
$1.99MX$33.81
-40.20%
Onion(1kg)
$1.07R$5.46
$1.98MX$33.58
-45.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90R$4.60
$1.24MX$21.04
-27.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77R$3.93
$1.21MX$20.55
-36.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.50R$12.81
$4.60MX$78.1
-45.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.82R$40.10
$10.52MX$178
-25.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13R$5.81
$1.69MX$28.70
-33.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15R$11.00
$2.77MX$47.06
-22.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Passo Fundo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.15R$5.91
$0.60MX$10.22
91.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.2R$273
$29.70MX$504
79.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.25R$6.39
$5.24MX$88.8
-76.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.84R$4.29
$3.65MX$61.9
-76.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.99R$40.96
$5.78MX$98.1
38.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.20R$6.16
$1.54MX$26.09
-22.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KR$116.8K
$22.8KMX$386.8K
-0.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4KR$171.2K
$25.8KMX$437.9K
29.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Passo Fundo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$71.6R$367
$90.7MX$1,538
-21.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.77R$44.94
$25.19MX$427
-65.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.75R$106
$31.75MX$539
-34.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Passo Fundo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.75R$122
$68.8MX$1,167
-65.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.78R$91.1
$29.37MX$498
-39.46%
Cinema Ticket
$6.41R$32.85
$4.86MX$82.5
31.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Passo Fundo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$265R$1,361
$226MX$3,828
17.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,891R$35.3K
$4,194MX$71.1K
64.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Passo Fundo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.30R$253
$47.38MX$804
4.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.1R$257
$43.45MX$737
15.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101R$516
$80.2MX$1,361
25.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9R$399
$91.4MX$1,550
-14.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Passo Fundo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$316R$1,619
$1,086MX$18.4K
-70.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$231R$1,182
$409MX$6,933
-43.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$739R$3,787
$1,972MX$33.5K
-62.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$543R$2,782
$1,281MX$21.7K
-57.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,222R$6,265
$4,046MX$68.6K
-69.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$969R$4,970
$6,704MX$113.7K
-85.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Passo Fundo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$697R$3,571
$773MX$13.1K
-9.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.5
11.45
0.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Passo Fundo: September 7, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $316 in Passo Fundo and $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 11% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Passo Fundo vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 vs $278 per month, with Passo Fundo 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
Passo Fundo vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Passo Fundo?
Passo Fundo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 49% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Passo Fundo or Playa del Carmen?
On paper, salaries run 11% lower in Playa del Carmen. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Passo Fundo and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $316 in Passo Fundo versus $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Passo Fundo or in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Passo Fundo – a meal for two runs $32.00 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 Passo Fundo and in Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $877 per month in Passo Fundo versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen – a 49% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Passo Fundo or in Playa del Carmen?
At $877 in Passo Fundo versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Passo Fundo but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Passo Fundo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Passo Fundo or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Passo Fundo 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 Passo Fundo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Passo Fundo vs other spots: cost of living compared