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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,330 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,707 in Fuenlabrada.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,336 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,986 in Fuenlabrada.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,341 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,264 in Fuenlabrada.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 22% less than in Fuenlabrada, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 3% below, Fuenlabrada is 25% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Fuenlabrada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.02 MX$221
$17.29 €14.79
-24.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.25 MX$784
$69.0 €59.0
-32.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.59 MX$213
$11.42 €9.77
10.25%
Cappuccino
$4.00 MX$67.9
$2.12 €1.82
88.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 MX$24.08
$3.43 €2.93
-58.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 MX$13.73
$1.94 €1.66
-58.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 MX$51.7
$3.53 €3.02
-13.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82 MX$116
$4.67 €3.99
46.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Fuenlabrada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 MX$29.04
$1.18 €1.01
44.92%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$37.62
$0.97 €0.83
128.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 MX$29.13
$2.11 €1.81
-18.48%
Eggs
$2.71 MX$45.99
$3.86 €3.30
-29.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.37 MX$159
$18.42 €15.75
-49.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.86 MX$150
$9.29 €7.95
-4.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.78 MX$217
$22.11 €18.91
-42.20%
Apples (1kg)
$3.13 MX$53.0
$2.79 €2.38
12.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 MX$26.24
$2.39 €2.04
-35.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 MX$36.51
$2.57 €2.20
-16.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.35 MX$39.89
$2.92 €2.50
-19.52%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$34.23
$2.21 €1.89
-8.60%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$33.67
$2.21 €1.89
-9.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 MX$21.09
$1.58 €1.35
-21.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 MX$20.21
$0.50 €0.43
138.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65 MX$78.8
$6.52 €5.57
-28.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.47 MX$177
$8.17 €6.99
28.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$26.82
$1.12 €0.96
41.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 MX$49.48
$2.23 €1.91
30.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Fuenlabrada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.56 MX$9.53
$1.49 €1.27
-62.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.76 MX$504
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.32 MX$90.2
$3.97 €3.39
34.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.72 MX$63.0
$1.52 €1.30
144.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.78 MX$97.9
$24.03 €20.55
-75.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 MX$26.27
$1.77 €1.51
-12.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4K MX$379.1K
$35.9K €30.7K
-37.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K MX$433.3K
$29.5K €25.3K
-13.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Fuenlabrada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.3 MX$1,513
$191 €164
-53.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.30 MX$395
$17.98 €15.38
29.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.72 MX$538
$34.05 €29.12
-6.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Fuenlabrada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.8 MX$1,165
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.40 MX$498
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.06 MX$85.7
$9.72 €8.32
-47.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Fuenlabrada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$222 MX$3,765
$186 €159
19.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,293 MX$72.7K
$6,177 €5,284
-30.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Fuenlabrada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.21 MX$783
$84.9 €72.6
-45.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.43 MX$753
$37.32 €31.92
19.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.5 MX$1,618
$83.6 €71.6
14.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.5 MX$1,568
$99.3 €84.9
-6.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Fuenlabrada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,069 MX$18.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$393 MX$6,663
$751 €642
-47.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,988 MX$33.7K
$1,287 €1,101
54.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,304 MX$22.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,037 MX$68.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,627 MX$112.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Fuenlabrada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$747 MX$12.7K
$1,720 €1,471
-56.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.6
3.14
269.43%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026

Last update for Fuenlabrada: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Fuenlabrada pays 130% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $46.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $69.0 in Fuenlabrada for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $316 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

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 Fuenlabrada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fuenlabrada cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Fuenlabrada?
On paper, salaries run 130% lower in Fuenlabrada. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Fuenlabrada?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Fuenlabrada. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Fuenlabrada?
All in, you'll spend $1,330 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,707 in Fuenlabrada – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Fuenlabrada?
At $1,330 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,707 in Fuenlabrada, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Fuenlabrada. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Fuenlabrada more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Fuenlabrada, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Fuenlabrada?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Fuenlabrada are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Fuenlabrada. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

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