๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,806 in Fayence.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,130 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,731 in Fayence.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,999 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,657 in Fayence.
๐Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 30% less than in Fayence, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Fayence is 35% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Fayence
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67MX$202
$17.48โฌ14.91
-33.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88MX$726
$57.7โฌ49.18
-27.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.40MX$180
$11.51โฌ9.82
-9.64%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$3.34โฌ2.85
8.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.45
$2.80โฌ2.39
-47.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.80
$1.85โฌ1.58
-50.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$6.87โฌ5.86
-55.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47MX$77.4
$5.67โฌ4.83
-21.16%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Fayence
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.83
$1.26โฌ1.07
9.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.93
$1.79โฌ1.53
2.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.82
$2.64โฌ2.25
-39.02%
Eggs
$2.57MX$44.52
$4.06โฌ3.47
-36.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$18.73โฌ15.98
-54.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$13.49โฌ11.51
-37.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.99MX$190
$20.81โฌ17.75
-47.19%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.25
$3.04โฌ2.59
-10.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.92
$2.16โฌ1.85
-30.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.93
$2.70โฌ2.31
-27.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.70
$3.63โฌ3.10
-41.60%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.30
$2.22โฌ1.90
-16.22%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.67
$2.57โฌ2.19
-15.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.59
$1.55โฌ1.32
-30.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05MX$18.18
$0.67โฌ0.57
56.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.6
$13.83โฌ11.80
-69.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.28MX$178
$7.62โฌ6.50
34.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.87
$2.68โฌ2.28
-37.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49MX$43.12
$3.37โฌ2.88
-26.11%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Fayence
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$2.00โฌ1.70
-73.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.27MX$455
$48.35โฌ41.24
-45.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10MX$53.8
$4.66โฌ3.97
-33.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.66
$1.85โฌ1.58
32.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.1
$36.30โฌ30.96
-91.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.83
$2.02โฌ1.72
-37.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$522.8K
$38.1Kโฌ32.5K
-20.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.3K
$37.3Kโฌ31.8K
-37.11%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Fayence
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0MX$1,456
$196โฌ167
-57.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21MX$385
$23.08โฌ19.69
-3.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65MX$514
$33.15โฌ28.28
-10.56%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Fayence
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6MX$912
$37.98โฌ32.40
38.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34MX$318
$18.25โฌ15.56
0.49%
Cinema Ticket
$4.95MX$85.7
$13.96โฌ11.91
-64.54%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Fayence
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,438
$768โฌ655
-74.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,322MX$92.2K
$8,729โฌ7,446
-39.04%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Fayence
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95MX$623
$102โฌ87.4
-64.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06MX$694
$39.19โฌ33.43
2.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,365
$90.9โฌ77.5
-13.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,499
$142โฌ121
-38.88%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Fayence
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977MX$16.9K
$783โฌ668
24.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$471MX$8,158
$614โฌ524
-23.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595MX$27.6K
$1,407โฌ1,200
13.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,215MX$21.1K
$1,071โฌ914
13.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,032MX$69.9K
$4,766โฌ4,066
-15.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,579MX$114.0K
$2,803โฌ2,391
134.73%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Fayence
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$714MX$12.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
3.63
214.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Last update for Fayence: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $977 in Playa del Carmen and $783 in Fayence. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $42 in Playa del Carmen vs $58 in Fayence for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $362 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 Fayence: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and Fayence?
Playa del Carmen and Fayence differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($1,261 vs $1,806 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Fayence?
You'd need roughly $1,891 in Playa del Carmen and $2,709 in Fayence to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Fayence?
Rent for a central apartment: $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $783 in Fayence. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in Fayence. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen โ a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $58.0 in Fayence. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,806 in Fayence, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Fayence. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Fayence?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Playa del Carmen or Fayence safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Fayence are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Fayence?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 43% less than in Fayence. 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