🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,259 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,633 in Farmington, CT.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,177 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,814 in Farmington, CT.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,095 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,995 in Farmington, CT.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 52% less than in Farmington, CT, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Farmington, CT is 97% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Farmington, CT
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.95MX$208
$19.05$19.05
-37.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.94MX$730
$100$100
-58.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.42MX$181
$13.33$13.33
-21.83%
Cappuccino
$3.51MX$61.2
$4.53$4.53
-22.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52MX$26.39
$2.79$2.79
-45.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.84
$2.16$2.16
-57.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.04MX$52.9
$6.10$6.10
-50.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37MX$76.1
$7.52$7.52
-41.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Farmington, CT
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42MX$24.73
$0.99$0.99
43.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83MX$31.87
$3.32$3.32
-44.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.45
$3.01$3.01
-45.85%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.20
$4.23$4.23
-39.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.57MX$149
$10.93$10.93
-21.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$148
$7.51$7.51
13.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.80MX$188
$13.09$13.09
-17.49%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75MX$47.94
$4.50$4.50
-38.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.00
$2.24$2.24
-35.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89MX$32.83
$2.90$2.90
-34.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.77
$5.41$5.41
-59.89%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.97
$4.38$4.38
-59.36%
Onion(1kg)
$2.22MX$38.71
$2.82$2.82
-21.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.60
$2.03$2.03
-47.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.79
$2.52$2.52
-57.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$72.2
$9.93$9.93
-58.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.45MX$182
$15.21$15.21
-31.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74MX$30.34
$2.10$2.10
-17.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.92
$1.95$1.95
32.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Farmington, CT
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.94
$2.02$2.02
-74.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.94MX$451
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.21MX$55.9
$5.11$5.11
-37.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.50MX$43.55
$1.66$1.66
50.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.19MX$55.4
$28.94$28.94
-88.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.87
$0.89$0.89
41.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$516.6K
$29.6K$29.6K
0.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.1K
$26.2K$26.2K
-9.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Farmington, CT
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,427
$255$255
-67.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.73MX$395
$65.1$65.1
-65.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.42MX$512
$61.6$61.6
-52.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Farmington, CT
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.2MX$908
$42.22$42.22
23.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.45MX$321
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$85.9
$14.96$14.96
-67.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Farmington, CT
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$202MX$3,511
$1,006$1,006
-79.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,217MX$90.8K
$23.4K$23.4K
-77.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Farmington, CT
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93MX$625
$49.91$49.91
-28.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$32.68$32.68
23.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,390
$66.2$66.2
20.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3MX$1,554
$81.9$81.9
9.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Farmington, CT
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$948MX$16.5K
$1,600$1,600
-40.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,097
$1,377$1,377
-66.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,630MX$28.4K
$2,669$2,669
-38.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,193MX$20.8K
$2,256$2,256
-47.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,933MX$68.4K
$2,649$2,649
48.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,428MX$111.9K
$2,321$2,321
176.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Farmington, CT
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$658MX$11.5K
$2,353$2,353
-72.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.61
72.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026
Last update for Farmington, CT: July 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $948 in Playa del Carmen and $1,600 in Farmington, CT. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Farmington, CT pays 258% 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: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $100 in Farmington, CT for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $358 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 Farmington, CT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Farmington, CT cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 109% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Farmington, CT?
On paper, salaries run 258% lower in Farmington, CT. 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 Playa del Carmen and Farmington, CT?
Rent for a central apartment: $948 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,600 in Farmington, CT. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Farmington, CT?
Supermarket bills run roughly 42% higher in Farmington, CT. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Farmington, CT?
All in, you'll spend $1,259 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,633 in Farmington, CT – a 109% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Farmington, CT?
At $1,259 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,633 in Farmington, CT, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Farmington, CT. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Farmington, CT more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Farmington, CT, 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 Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 109% less than in Farmington, CT. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared