Cost of Living Comparison Between Passo Fundo and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Passo Fundo and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $677 in Passo Fundo versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,124 in Passo Fundo versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,571 in Passo Fundo versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Passo Fundo costs roughly 48% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Passo Fundo 49% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Passo Fundo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.47 R$27.67
$11.73 MX$203
-53.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.27 R$138
$41.62 MX$721
-34.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.27 R$31.70
$10.64 MX$184
-41.07%
Cappuccino
$0.92 R$4.64
$3.52 MX$61.0
-73.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 R$5.57
$1.51 MX$26.17
-27.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 R$2.83
$0.97 MX$16.87
-42.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.46 R$7.40
$2.95 MX$51.1
-50.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 R$9.02
$4.45 MX$77.2
-60.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Passo Fundo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.86 R$4.34
$1.38 MX$23.97
-37.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 R$7.28
$1.89 MX$32.78
-23.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.10 R$5.57
$1.64 MX$28.37
-32.93%
Eggs
$2.12 R$10.74
$2.51 MX$43.42
-15.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.70 R$28.84
$8.34 MX$145
-31.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.53 R$22.94
$8.34 MX$145
-45.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.14 R$46.25
$10.73 MX$186
-14.82%
Apples (1kg)
$2.01 R$10.15
$2.60 MX$45.12
-22.69%
Banana (1kg)
$0.70 R$3.53
$1.46 MX$25.25
-52.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 R$6.48
$1.90 MX$32.94
-32.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.70 R$3.56
$2.08 MX$35.98
-66.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.09 R$5.54
$1.78 MX$30.77
-38.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 R$5.38
$2.19 MX$37.87
-51.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.64 R$3.23
$1.04 MX$18.02
-38.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62 R$3.12
$1.08 MX$18.66
-42.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.98 R$10.02
$4.08 MX$70.7
-51.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.05 R$40.71
$10.32 MX$179
-22.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 R$3.79
$1.71 MX$29.67
-56.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 R$9.14
$2.58 MX$44.63
-29.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Passo Fundo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 R$4.39
$0.51 MX$8.83
70.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.20 R$198
$26.46 MX$459
48.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.10 R$5.55
$3.26 MX$56.5
-66.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 R$5.15
$2.49 MX$43.17
-59.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.33 R$26.95
$3.25 MX$56.3
64.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 R$5.59
$1.31 MX$22.65
-16.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K R$123.6K
$30.3K MX$524.7K
-19.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6K R$139.7K
$23.4K MX$406.0K
17.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Passo Fundo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$34.18 R$173
$82.9 MX$1,436
-58.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.83 R$34.58
$22.22 MX$385
-69.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.86 R$90.4
$29.34 MX$508
-39.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Passo Fundo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.32 R$92.7
$51.6 MX$895
-64.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.47 R$109
$18.32 MX$317
17.19%
Cinema Ticket
$4.45 R$22.53
$5.07 MX$87.8
-12.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Passo Fundo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 R$1,562
$201 MX$3,480
53.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,130 R$36.1K
$5,212 MX$90.3K
36.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Passo Fundo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.20 R$249
$36.92 MX$640
33.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.6 R$271
$39.79 MX$689
34.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.7 R$408
$78.5 MX$1,360
2.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.0 R$313
$87.1 MX$1,509
-28.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Passo Fundo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$311 R$1,573
$973 MX$16.9K
-68.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$179 R$906
$468 MX$8,105
-61.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$633 R$3,203
$1,641 MX$28.4K
-61.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$355 R$1,795
$1,221 MX$21.2K
-70.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$865 R$4,377
$3,946 MX$68.4K
-78.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$636 R$3,215
$6,498 MX$112.6K
-90.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Passo Fundo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$713 R$3,606
$664 MX$11.5K
7.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10
11.42
-12.43%

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

Last update for Passo Fundo: May 30, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $311 in Passo Fundo and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Passo Fundo pays 7% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $27.00 in Passo Fundo vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $165 vs $249 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 91% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Passo Fundo or Playa del Carmen?
Passo Fundo pays 7% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Passo Fundo and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $311 in Passo Fundo versus $973 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 Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Passo Fundo – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $42.00 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $677 per month in Passo Fundo versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – a 91% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Passo Fundo or Playa del Carmen?
At $677 in Passo Fundo versus $1,297 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 91% 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

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