😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $376 in Francistown, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $620 in Francistown, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $864 in Francistown, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 243% more than Francistown, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Francistown are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, Francistown72% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Francistown
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$7.37P 101
62.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
-
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$1.53P 21.02
101.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Francistown
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.33P 18.31
7.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$0.55P 7.62
241.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
-
-
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$1.90P 26.13
38.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$6.02P 82.7
37.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$6.39P 87.8
73.71%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$1.14P 15.72
132.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$1.51P 20.81
-0.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$1.51P 20.69
31.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$1.45P 19.87
43.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$1.62P 22.20
10.49%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$1.50P 20.67
45.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$0.91P 12.50
18.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.85P 11.74
22.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$5.77P 79.3
-31.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.50P 20.64
15.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Francistown
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$0.58P 7.93
-10.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Francistown
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Francistown
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$30.21P 415
71.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Francistown
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$113P 1,550
75.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$1,764P 24.2K
198.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Francistown
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$59.9P 823
-39.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$33.79P 464
18.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$112P 1,544
-28.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$111P 1,531
-20.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Francistown
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$423P 5,814
277.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Francistown
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
0
-
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 Francistown: April 26, 2026
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 Francistown: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and Francistown compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, $376 in Francistown – roughly 243% 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 Francistown?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $563 in Francistown. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Francistown?
Kindergarten costs $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $113 in Francistown. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Francistown?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $376 in Francistown. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Francistown, where all-in costs run around $376, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Francistown 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 Francistown?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $376 in Francistown to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Playa del Carmen or Francistown safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Francistown?
If budget matters most, go with Francistown. 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