Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Fethiye Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Fethiye

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,115 in Fethiye, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,711 in Fethiye, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,307 in Fethiye, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 15% more than Fethiye, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Playa del Carmen and Fethiye are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Fethiye 17% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Fethiye
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94 MX$208
$7.76 ₺350
53.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$744
$45.21 ₺2,039
-5.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 MX$184
$6.83 ₺308
55.05%
Cappuccino
$3.62 MX$63.0
$2.80 ₺126
29.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.54
$1.62 ₺73.1
-9.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 MX$16.41
$1.05 ₺47.28
-10.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$53.8
$3.07 ₺138
0.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 MX$77.6
$4.03 ₺182
10.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Fethiye
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.80
$0.90 ₺40.54
58.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.79
$0.97 ₺43.80
93.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.34
$1.54 ₺69.4
5.84%
Eggs
$2.64 MX$45.99
$1.71 ₺77.1
54.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 MX$143
$7.99 ₺360
2.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$144
$5.35 ₺241
54.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.10 MX$193
$19.15 ₺863
-42.04%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 MX$46.14
$1.11 ₺49.91
138.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$26.11
$2.09 ₺94.4
-28.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.59
$1.08 ₺48.51
84.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.13
$1.14 ₺51.3
82.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.11
$0.55 ₺24.64
225.45%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$37.87
$0.42 ₺18.81
419.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.73
$1.28 ₺57.5
-15.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 MX$18.04
$0.32 ₺14.21
225.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 MX$69.1
$1.98 ₺89.2
100.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.20 MX$178
$13.09 ₺590
-22.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.04
$1.70 ₺76.5
1.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 MX$43.46
$2.06 ₺93.0
21.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Fethiye
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.02
$0.98 ₺44.22
-46.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.97 MX$469
$30.13 ₺1,358
-10.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$54.7
$3.04 ₺137
3.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$41.80
$1.11 ₺50.2
116.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 MX$53.7
$7.39 ₺333
-58.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$22.16
$1.20 ₺54.0
5.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K MX$537.3K
$41.1K ₺1.9M
-24.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$405.7K
$42.4K ₺1.9M
-45.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Fethiye
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,427
$46.76 ₺2,109
75.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45 MX$391
$7.73 ₺349
190.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66 MX$516
$15.29 ₺690
93.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Fethiye
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.9 MX$903
$38.45 ₺1,734
34.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67 MX$325
$17.89 ₺807
4.36%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 MX$86.5
$6.54 ₺295
-24.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Fethiye
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,442
$291 ₺13.1K
-32.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,273 MX$91.7K
$16.5K ₺744.7K
-68.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Fethiye
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34 MX$632
$77.3 ₺3,485
-52.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05 MX$697
$44.24 ₺1,995
-9.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 MX$1,390
$158 ₺7,129
-49.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,547
$113 ₺5,085
-21.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Fethiye
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.8K
$590 ₺26.6K
63.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,086
$395 ₺17.8K
17.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,596 MX$27.8K
$864 ₺38.9K
84.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 MX$21.0K
$567 ₺25.5K
113.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,942 MX$68.6K
$2,048 ₺92.3K
92.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,448 MX$112.2K
$1,157 ₺52.2K
457.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Fethiye
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$720 MX$12.5K
$1,033 ₺46.6K
-30.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
42.08
-72.86%

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 Fethiye: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $590 in Fethiye. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 43% higher in Fethiye, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $45.00 in Fethiye. Groceries tell a different story – $251 in Playa del Carmen vs $218 in Fethiye – so Fethiye wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Fethiye: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fethiye cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,672 in Fethiye. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Fethiye, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 12% less in Fethiye. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $291 in Fethiye. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Fethiye?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Fethiye, where all-in costs run around $1,115, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Fethiye it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Fethiye more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Fethiye – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Fethiye?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Fethiye. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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