😐A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $369 in Francistown, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $614 in Francistown, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $860 in Francistown, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 242% more than Francistown, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Francistown are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Francistown72% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Francistown
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$7.47P 98.9
56.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
-
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$1.48P 19.57
100.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
-
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🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Francistown
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$1.34P 17.68
4.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$0.56P 7.45
235.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
-
-
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$1.83P 24.18
42.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$6.38P 84.4
30.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$6.44P 85.2
68.63%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$1.11P 14.68
144.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$1.47P 19.45
2.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$1.51P 19.98
23.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$1.39P 18.37
57.55%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$1.69P 22.35
10.06%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$1.48P 19.56
50.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$0.92P 12.15
16.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$0.80P 10.53
36.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$5.61P 74.3
-25.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$1.48P 19.54
12.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Francistown
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$0.58P 7.73
-6.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Francistown
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Francistown
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$29.65P 393
78.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Francistown
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$113P 1,495
77.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$1,813P 24.0K
185.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Francistown
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$59.8P 791
-39.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$33.92P 449
18.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$112P 1,487
-29.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$111P 1,468
-22.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Francistown
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$422P 5,591
291.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Francistown
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
-
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Francistown: July 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 in Francistown compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, $369 in Francistown – roughly 242% 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 $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $553 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 $201 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 $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $369 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 $369, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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 $369 in Francistown to $1,260 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