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

Monthly Cost of Living

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 Carmen 4% lower, Francistown 72% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Francistown
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94 MX$209
$7.37 P 101
62.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$748
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 MX$185
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.62 MX$63.4
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.69
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 MX$16.51
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$54.1
$1.53 P 21.02
101.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 MX$78.0
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Francistown
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$1.33 P 18.31
7.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.97
$0.55 P 7.62
241.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.50
-
-
Eggs
$2.64 MX$46.26
$1.90 P 26.13
38.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 MX$144
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$6.02 P 82.7
37.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.10 MX$194
$6.39 P 87.8
73.71%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 MX$46.40
$1.14 P 15.72
132.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$26.26
$1.51 P 20.81
-0.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.79
$1.51 P 20.69
31.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.33
$1.45 P 19.87
43.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.29
$1.62 P 22.20
10.49%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.09
$1.50 P 20.67
45.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.84
$0.91 P 12.50
18.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 MX$18.15
$0.85 P 11.74
22.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 MX$69.5
$5.77 P 79.3
-31.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.20 MX$179
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.22
$1.50 P 20.64
15.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 MX$43.71
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Francistown
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.07
$0.58 P 7.93
-10.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.97 MX$472
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$55.0
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$42.04
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 MX$54.0
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$22.28
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K MX$540.4K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$408.0K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Francistown
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,435
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45 MX$393
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66 MX$519
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Francistown
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.9 MX$908
$30.21 P 415
71.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67 MX$327
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 MX$87.0
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Francistown
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,462
$113 P 1,550
75.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,273 MX$92.3K
$1,764 P 24.2K
198.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Francistown
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34 MX$636
$59.9 P 823
-39.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05 MX$701
$33.79 P 464
18.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 MX$1,398
$112 P 1,544
-28.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,555
$111 P 1,531
-20.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Francistown
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,133
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,596 MX$27.9K
$423 P 5,814
277.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 MX$21.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,942 MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,448 MX$112.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Francistown
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$720 MX$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.

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