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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,942 in Fairfield, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,556 in Fairfield, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $7,170 in Fairfield, CA.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 67% less than in Fairfield, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 4% below, Fairfield, CA is 194% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.94 MX$209

$22.05 $22.05

-45.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.75 MX$748

$80.8 $80.8

-47.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 MX$185

$11.90 $11.90

-11.01%

Cappuccino

$3.62 MX$63.4

$4.75 $4.75

-23.79%

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

$1.47 MX$25.69

$2.84 $2.84

-48.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 MX$16.51

$2.05 $2.05

-54.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 MX$54.1

$7.60 $7.60

-59.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MX$78.0

$6.98 $6.98

-36.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

$1.17 $1.17

22.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.97

$3.94 $3.94

-52.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 MX$28.50

$4.43 $4.43

-63.21%

Eggs

$2.64 MX$46.26

$5.35 $5.35

-50.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.21 MX$144

$13.49 $13.49

-39.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$145

$11.34 $11.34

-26.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.10 MX$194

$17.97 $17.97

-38.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 MX$46.40

$8.05 $8.05

-67.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$26.26

$2.85 $2.85

-47.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.79

$5.81 $5.81

-65.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.33

$7.75 $7.75

-73.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 MX$31.29

$3.88 $3.88

-53.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$38.09

$3.82 $3.82

-42.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.84

$2.13 $2.13

-49.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 MX$18.15

$1.95 $1.95

-46.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 MX$69.5

$11.78 $11.78

-66.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 MX$179

$10.01 $10.01

1.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.22

$1.79 $1.79

-3.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 MX$43.71

$2.62 $2.62

-4.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 MX$9.07

$1.98 $1.98

-73.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$472

$87.6 $87.6

-69.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 MX$55.0

$2.97 $2.97

5.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$42.04

$1.89 $1.89

26.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 MX$54.0

$28.86 $28.86

-89.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$22.28

$1.28 $1.28

-0.78%

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

$30.9K MX$540.4K

$34.7K $34.7K

-10.90%

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

$23.3K MX$408.0K

$27.1K $27.1K

-14.11%

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

$82.0 MX$1,435

$229 $229

-64.13%

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

$22.45 MX$393

$50.1 $50.1

-55.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 MX$519

$73.3 $73.3

-59.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 MX$908

$124 $124

-58.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$327

$75.3 $75.3

-75.21%

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 MX$87.0

$14.28 $14.28

-65.20%

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

$198 MX$3,462

$1,892 $1,892

-89.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,273 MX$92.3K

$20.2K $20.2K

-73.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.34 MX$636

$57.8 $57.8

-37.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.05 MX$701

$43.08 $43.08

-7.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 MX$1,398

$86.1 $86.1

-7.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,555

$111 $111

-19.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$963 MX$16.9K

$2,499 $2,499

-61.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MX$8,133

$2,464 $2,464

-81.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,596 MX$27.9K

$3,244 $3,244

-50.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 MX$21.2K

$3,743 $3,743

-67.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,942 MX$69.0K

$3,697 $3,697

6.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,448 MX$112.8K

$3,647 $3,647

76.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$720 MX$12.6K

$4,903 $4,903

-85.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

6.52

75.15%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Last update for Fairfield, CA: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $2,499 in Fairfield, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fairfield, CA pays 581% 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: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $81.0 in Fairfield, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $446 per month, with Playa del Carmen 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

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

Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 206% lower than in Fairfield, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Fairfield, CA earns 581% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,499 in Fairfield, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $3,942 in Fairfield, CA – a 206% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 225% less than in Fairfield, CA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,942 in Fairfield, CA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Fairfield, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,287 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 206% less than in Fairfield, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.