😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $785 in Ferraz de Vasconcelos.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,225 in Ferraz de Vasconcelos.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,665 in Ferraz de Vasconcelos.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 65% more expensive than Ferraz de Vasconcelos, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen3% lower, Ferraz de Vasconcelos41% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ferraz de Vasconcelos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$205
$5.45R$28.08
115.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$727
$27.09R$140
53.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$186
$6.46R$33.29
64.71%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$61.5
$1.81R$9.33
94.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.37
$1.12R$5.78
34.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$17.00
$0.65R$3.37
49.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.5
$1.84R$9.50
60.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.8
$2.78R$14.31
60.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ferraz de Vasconcelos
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$24.16
$1.01R$5.21
36.63%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$33.04
$1.52R$7.85
24.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.59
$1.19R$6.15
37.82%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.76
$2.04R$10.51
23.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$146
$8.28R$42.67
0.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$146
$3.73R$19.24
123.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$187
$7.39R$38.07
45.20%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.48
$2.06R$10.63
26.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.45
$1.29R$6.65
13.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$33.19
$1.20R$6.19
58.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.26
$1.45R$7.48
43.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$31.01
$1.20R$6.20
48.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.16
$1.09R$5.63
100.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$18.16
$0.69R$3.57
50.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.80
$0.65R$3.36
66.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$71.3
$2.17R$11.19
88.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$180
$7.99R$41.15
29.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.90
$1.20R$6.20
42.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.98
$2.07R$10.66
24.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ferraz de Vasconcelos
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.90
$0.87R$4.47
-41.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$462
$38.15R$197
-30.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$57.0
$1.10R$5.68
196.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.51
$0.75R$3.89
232.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.7
$6.32R$32.56
-48.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.83
$1.09R$5.62
20.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$528.8K
$20.6KR$106.2K
46.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$409.2K
$27.7KR$142.6K
-15.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ferraz de Vasconcelos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,447
$61.5R$317
34.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$388
$13.35R$68.8
66.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$512
$18.90R$97.4
55.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ferraz de Vasconcelos
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$902
$22.97R$118
124.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$320
$21.79R$112
-15.92%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$88.5
$6.39R$32.92
-20.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ferraz de Vasconcelos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,507
$273R$1,407
-26.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$91.0K
$6,580R$33.9K
-20.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ferraz de Vasconcelos
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$645
$48.95R$252
-24.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$695
$42.62R$220
-6.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,370
$74.9R$386
4.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,521
$64.0R$330
36.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ferraz de Vasconcelos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$17.0K
$315R$1,621
209.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,169
$217R$1,119
115.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.7K
$578R$2,975
184.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.3K
$425R$2,190
187.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.9K
$1,578R$8,126
150.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$113.5K
$1,166R$6,004
457.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ferraz de Vasconcelos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.6K
$297R$1,528
123.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
10.92
4.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Last update for Ferraz de Vasconcelos: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $315 in Ferraz de Vasconcelos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 124% 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 $27.00 in Ferraz de Vasconcelos for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $177 per month, with Ferraz de Vasconcelos 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 Ferraz de Vasconcelos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Ferraz de Vasconcelos?
Ferraz de Vasconcelos wins on cost – living expenses run 65% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ferraz de Vasconcelos the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or Ferraz de Vasconcelos?
Playa del Carmen pays 124% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen vs Ferraz de Vasconcelos?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $315 in Ferraz de Vasconcelos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen vs Ferraz de Vasconcelos?
A monthly transit pass in Ferraz de Vasconcelos runs roughly 44% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and Ferraz de Vasconcelos?
Childcare runs $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $273 in Ferraz de Vasconcelos. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or Ferraz de Vasconcelos?
At $785 in Ferraz de Vasconcelos versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ferraz de Vasconcelos but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Ferraz de Vasconcelos the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Ferraz de Vasconcelos?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ferraz de Vasconcelos delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $785 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ferraz de Vasconcelos hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ferraz de Vasconcelos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in Playa del Carmen. 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