Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Famagusta

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $1,648 in Famagusta, rent and utilities included – about $5,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Famagusta, Cyprus
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Famagusta
🇨🇾 Cyprus
$1,648
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Famagusta

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Famagusta actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,648 in Famagusta.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Famagusta $1,648

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,356 in Famagusta.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Famagusta $2,356

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,959 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,064 in Famagusta.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Famagusta $3,064

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 27% less than in Famagusta, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 12% below, Famagusta is 21% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Famagusta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$205
$16.89 €15.12
-35.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$814
$56.7 €50.8
-23.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$221
$8.81 €7.89
33.71%
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$71.5
$3.52 €3.15
8.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$24.07
$1.10 €0.99
16.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.70
$1.19 €1.07
-34.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$59.5
$4.60 €4.12
-31.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$92.7
$3.88 €3.48
27.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Famagusta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.40
$1.95 €1.74
-27.69%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.62
$1.42 €1.27
56.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.61
$2.13 €1.91
-33.33%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$47.36
$4.50 €4.03
-44.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$136
$9.32 €8.35
-22.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$144
$9.10 €8.15
-15.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$238
$12.55 €11.24
1.12%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$52.3
$3.22 €2.88
-13.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.68
$1.84 €1.64
-25.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.89
$2.04 €1.82
25.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.86
$2.96 €2.65
-28.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.39
$1.39 €1.24
39.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.41
$1.20 €1.08
57.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.53
$0.59 €0.53
94.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$22.13
$1.01 €0.90
16.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$80.6
$5.49 €4.91
-21.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$187
$6.74 €6.03
47.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.73
$1.66 €1.49
-4.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$50.1
$1.98 €1.77
34.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Famagusta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.39
$2.34 €2.09
-76.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$500
$50.2 €45.00
-47.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$93.3
$5.62 €5.03
-11.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$62.5
$2.16 €1.93
54.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$101
$22.47 €20.13
-76.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$27.11
$1.76 €1.58
-18.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$388.0K
$26.8K €24.0K
-23.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$440.5K
$23.0K €20.6K
1.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Famagusta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,592
$184 €165
-53.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$439
$24.32 €21.78
-3.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$538
$32.90 €29.46
-12.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Famagusta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,071
$44.75 €40.08
27.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$543
$16.67 €14.93
73.43%
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$96.5
$11.11 €9.95
-53.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Famagusta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,878
$461 €413
-55.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$73.7K
$2,952 €2,644
33.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Famagusta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$814
$49.42 €44.26
-12.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$778
$32.70 €29.29
26.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,393
$94.1 €84.3
-21.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,676
$87.8 €78.6
1.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Famagusta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.4K
$647 €580
51.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,150
$633 €567
-39.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$32.1K
$966 €865
76.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.2K
$811 €727
32.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$74.0K
$3,667 €3,284
7.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$115.6K
$2,326 €2,083
164.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Famagusta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.8K
$914 €818
-19.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
3.31
245.92%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Last update for Famagusta: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Famagusta
$633 66.3% $252
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Famagusta
$268 5.2% $13
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Famagusta
$244 20.4% $41
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Famagusta
$241 76.4% $105
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Famagusta
$119 6.4% $7.1
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Famagusta
$67 0.5% $0.3
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Famagusta
$76 50.6% $26

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $980 in Playa del Carmen and $647 in Famagusta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Famagusta pays 24% 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 in Playa del Carmen vs $57 in Famagusta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $255 vs $268 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇨🇾 Famagusta
🕒 Local time
07:16 7:16 AM
14:16 2:16 PM
7 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
42,526
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 18.77 MXN (100 MXN = 5.33 USD). 1 EUR = 20.96 MXN (100 MXN = 4.77 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Famagusta 11,240 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Famagusta

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Famagusta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Famagusta?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in Famagusta. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or in Famagusta?
On paper, salaries run 20% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen compared to Famagusta?
Rent for a central apartment: $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $647 in Famagusta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen compared to Famagusta?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 47% less than in Famagusta. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Famagusta?
Childcare runs $207 in Playa del Carmen versus $461 in Famagusta. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or in Famagusta?
At $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,648 in Famagusta, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Famagusta. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Playa del Carmen or Famagusta?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or to Famagusta?
It comes down to priorities – Playa del Carmen wins on affordability, Famagusta on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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