😐A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,139 in Fier, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,680 in Fier, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,220 in Fier, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 11% more than Fier, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Fier are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Fier14% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Fier
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$204
$11.57ALL 948
1.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$731
$35.42ALL 2,902
18.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$183
$3.48ALL 285
202.01%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.5
$2.06ALL 169
74.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.31
$1.88ALL 154
-19.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.96
$0.90ALL 73.7
2.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.6
$1.58ALL 129
87.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.9
$3.21ALL 263
37.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Fier
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.35
$2.05ALL 168
-31.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.87
$1.14ALL 93.2
64.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$27.19
$2.14ALL 175
-27.10%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.50
$3.98ALL 326
-34.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$145
$12.92ALL 1,059
-35.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$146
$7.16ALL 587
16.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$189
$11.83ALL 969
-8.20%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$47.31
$1.45ALL 119
86.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.25
$2.43ALL 199
-37.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.67
$2.00ALL 164
-6.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.19
$1.94ALL 159
12.89%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.40
$1.15ALL 94.4
61.74%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.90
$1.21ALL 99.3
84.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.63
$1.38ALL 113
-22.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.94
$0.61ALL 49.99
78.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$73.0
$4.15ALL 340
0.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$182
$11.13ALL 912
-6.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.91
$1.45ALL 119
14.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.56
$2.06ALL 169
26.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Fier
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.45
$0.45ALL 37.16
20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$456
$19.05ALL 1,561
37.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.7
$2.40ALL 197
28.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.94
$1.03ALL 84.6
133.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.5
$17.60ALL 1,442
-82.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.87
$1.85ALL 152
-29.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$519.9K
$17.7KALL 1.5M
68.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$406.8K
$35.5KALL 2.9M
-34.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Fier
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,418
$105ALL 8,633
-22.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$393
$17.60ALL 1,442
28.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$524
$11.74ALL 962
155.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Fier
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$923
$56.2ALL 4,604
-5.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$321
$25.02ALL 2,050
-26.50%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.8
$9.53ALL 781
-48.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Fier
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,502
$160ALL 13.2K
25.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$90.2K
$5,507ALL 451.3K
-6.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Fier
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$627
$68.1ALL 5,580
-47.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$700
$47.86ALL 3,922
-16.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,390
$94.3ALL 7,729
-15.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,508
$131ALL 10.7K
-33.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Fier
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$17.1K
$452ALL 37.1K
116.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,206
$342ALL 28.1K
37.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.8K
$610ALL 50.0K
170.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$21.0K
$442ALL 36.3K
172.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$69.0K
$1,215ALL 99.6K
225.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$115.2K
$986ALL 80.8K
570.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Fier
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.8K
$552ALL 45.2K
22.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
5.52
106.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Last update for Fier: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $452 in Fier. 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 23% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $35.00 in Fier. Groceries tell a different story – $252 in Playa del Carmen vs $258 in Fier – so Playa del Carmen 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 Fier: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and in Fier compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, $1,139 in Fier – roughly 11% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Fier?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,708 in Fier. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Playa del Carmen and Fier?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Fier, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Fier?
Public transport costs about 37% less in Fier. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Fier?
Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $160 in Fier. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Fier, where all-in costs run around $1,139, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Fier it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Fier?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,139 in Fier to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Fier?
If budget matters most, go with Fier. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared