😐A single person spends $1,215 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,214 in Figueira da Foz, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,144 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,779 in Figueira da Foz, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,072 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,343 in Figueira da Foz, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen and Figueira da Foz have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Figueira da Foz are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen9% lower, Figueira da Foz9% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Figueira da Foz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.97MX$197
$10.04€8.92
9.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.85MX$806
$45.10€40.07
-0.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.92MX$214
$6.70€5.95
77.91%
Cappuccino
$3.80MX$68.4
$1.44€1.28
163.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31MX$23.57
$1.51€1.34
-13.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86MX$15.39
$1.11€0.99
-22.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21MX$57.7
$1.90€1.68
68.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.01MX$90.1
$2.87€2.55
74.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Figueira da Foz
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46MX$26.20
$0.95€0.84
53.68%
White Bread(500g)
$2.33MX$41.81
$1.26€1.12
84.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.92
$1.67€1.49
-13.77%
Eggs
$2.46MX$44.23
$2.83€2.51
-13.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.70MX$138
$6.06€5.38
27.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.89MX$142
$6.74€5.99
17.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.80MX$230
$10.36€9.21
23.55%
Apples(1kg)
$2.92MX$52.4
$1.87€1.66
56.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.42MX$25.55
$1.40€1.25
1.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.57MX$46.10
$1.81€1.60
41.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.14MX$38.41
$1.95€1.73
9.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.95MX$34.99
$1.68€1.49
16.07%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94MX$34.79
$1.72€1.53
12.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15MX$20.68
$1.25€1.11
-8.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22MX$21.94
$0.45€0.40
171.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38MX$78.6
$6.08€5.40
-27.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.85MX$177
$4.02€3.57
145.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54MX$27.63
$0.94€0.84
63.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72MX$48.80
$2.63€2.34
3.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Figueira da Foz
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.43
$2.29€2.04
-77.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.42MX$493
$39.64€35.21
-30.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.91MX$88.3
$2.63€2.34
86.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.52MX$63.3
$0.77€0.69
357.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.69MX$102
$10.22€9.08
-44.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$27.67
$2.07€1.84
-25.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2KMX$381.7K
$33.3K€29.6K
-36.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5KMX$440.0K
$37.3K€33.1K
-34.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Figueira da Foz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.6MX$1,502
$95.4€84.7
-12.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.03MX$432
$21.00€18.65
14.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.33MX$527
$31.78€28.23
-7.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Figueira da Foz
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.9MX$1,166
$33.95€30.16
91.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.46MX$529
$19.18€17.04
53.60%
Cinema Ticket
$5.09MX$91.4
$8.51€7.56
-40.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Figueira da Foz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$208MX$3,732
$279€248
-25.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,045MX$72.7K
$6,086€5,407
-33.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Figueira da Foz
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.55MX$801
$59.1€52.5
-24.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06MX$756
$36.21€32.17
16.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.5MX$1,357
$45.42€40.35
66.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4MX$1,642
$95.1€84.5
-3.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Figueira da Foz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$986MX$17.7K
$709€630
39.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$385MX$6,921
$526€467
-26.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,713MX$30.8K
$1,117€993
53.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,108MX$19.9K
$723€643
53.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,016MX$72.2K
$2,164€1,923
85.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,247MX$112.3K
$1,436€1,276
335.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Figueira da Foz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.6K
$1,115€990
-31.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
3.53
224.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 4, 2026
Last update for Figueira da Foz: October 3, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Playa del Carmen versus $709 in Figueira da Foz. 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 47% higher in Figueira da Foz. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $45.00 in Figueira da Foz. Groceries tell a different story – $260 in Playa del Carmen vs $195 in Figueira da Foz – so Figueira da Foz 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 Figueira da Foz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,823 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,821 in Figueira da Foz. 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 Figueira da Foz, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Figueira da Foz?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Playa del Carmen and $45.00 in Figueira da Foz. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 45% less in Figueira da Foz. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Figueira da Foz?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Figueira da Foz, where all-in costs run around $1,214, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,215. In Figueira da Foz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Figueira da Foz more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Figueira da Foz – 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 Figueira da Foz?
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 Figueira da Foz. 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