Cost of Living Comparison Between Phu Quoc and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Phu Quoc and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $736 per month in Phu Quoc vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,181 per month in Phu Quoc vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,626 per month in Phu Quoc vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Phu Quoc is about 42% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Phu Quoc and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Phu Quoc 45% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ₫50.9K

$11.67 MX$202

-83.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.90 ₫548.6K

$41.88 MX$726

-50.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.46 ₫117.0K

$10.40 MX$180

-57.12%

Cappuccino

$1.78 ₫46.7K

$3.61 MX$62.6

-50.69%

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

$0.47 ₫12.3K

$1.47 MX$25.45

-68.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ₫7,270

$0.91 MX$15.80

-69.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.93 ₫24.4K

$3.03 MX$52.6

-69.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ₫39.4K

$4.47 MX$77.4

-66.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 ₫35.9K

$1.38 MX$23.83

-0.72%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 ₫25.4K

$1.84 MX$31.93

-47.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.96 ₫25.2K

$1.61 MX$27.82

-40.37%

Eggs

$1.43 ₫37.5K

$2.57 MX$44.52

-44.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.84 ₫310.7K

$8.49 MX$147

39.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 ₫99.2K

$8.49 MX$147

-55.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ₫261.0K

$10.99 MX$190

-9.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.79 ₫73.1K

$2.73 MX$47.25

2.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 ₫26.8K

$1.50 MX$25.92

-32.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ₫34.2K

$1.96 MX$33.93

-33.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 ₫28.5K

$2.12 MX$36.70

-48.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 ₫26.8K

$1.86 MX$32.30

-45.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 ₫26.7K

$2.17 MX$37.67

-53.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ₫17.3K

$1.07 MX$18.59

-38.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₫12.7K

$1.05 MX$18.18

-54.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.32 ₫34.6K

$4.19 MX$72.6

-68.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.22 ₫294.5K

$10.28 MX$178

9.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₫21.0K

$1.67 MX$28.87

-52.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ₫41.5K

$2.49 MX$43.12

-36.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 ₫8,980

$0.54 MX$9.37

-37.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.43 ₫168.6K

$26.27 MX$455

-75.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₫17.6K

$3.10 MX$53.8

-78.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 ₫16.1K

$2.46 MX$42.66

-75.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.75 ₫72.1K

$3.24 MX$56.1

-15.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 ₫22.2K

$1.26 MX$21.83

-33.33%

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

$34.8K ₫913.8M

$30.2K MX$522.8K

15.43%

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

$31.6K ₫830.3M

$23.4K MX$406.3K

34.96%

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

$74.9 ₫2.0M

$84.0 MX$1,456

-10.87%

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

$5.73 ₫150.3K

$22.21 MX$385

-74.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.77 ₫230.2K

$29.65 MX$514

-70.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.28 ₫584.6K

$52.6 MX$912

-57.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.54 ₫198.0K

$18.34 MX$318

-58.89%

Cinema Ticket

$3.03 ₫79.4K

$4.95 MX$85.7

-38.79%

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

$261 ₫6.9M

$198 MX$3,438

31.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K ₫305.9M

$5,322 MX$92.2K

119.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.32 ₫1.1M

$35.95 MX$623

14.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.83 ₫599.2K

$40.06 MX$694

-43.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 ₫2.2M

$78.8 MX$1,365

8.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.6 ₫2.0M

$86.5 MX$1,499

-13.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$354 ₫9.3M

$977 MX$16.9K

-63.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$250 ₫6.6M

$471 MX$8,158

-46.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$735 ₫19.3M

$1,595 MX$27.6K

-53.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$536 ₫14.1M

$1,215 MX$21.1K

-55.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,057 ₫54.0M

$4,032 MX$69.9K

-48.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,227 ₫32.2M

$6,579 MX$114.0K

-81.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$714 MX$12.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.1

11.42

-20.32%

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

Last update for Phu Quoc: April 20, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $354 in Phu Quoc versus $977 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $21 in Phu Quoc versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $191 vs $252 – making Phu Quoc 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

Phu Quoc vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen costs about 71% more than Phu Quoc, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,105 per month in Phu Quoc and $1,891 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 Phu Quoc, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 309% less in Phu Quoc. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $261 per month in Phu Quoc and $198 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Phu Quoc, where all-in costs run around $736, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,261. In Phu Quoc it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phu Quoc costs $736 versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Phu Quoc. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.