๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,024 in Fรผrth.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,126 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,834 in Fรผrth.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,980 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,643 in Fรผrth.
๐Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 37% less than in Fรผrth, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 5% below, Fรผrth is 51% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Fรผrth
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$207
$15.29โฌ13.25
-22.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$749
$58.2โฌ50.5
-26.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$186
$11.46โฌ9.93
-7.07%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$60.2
$3.90โฌ3.38
-11.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$26.24
$3.24โฌ2.81
-53.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.56
$2.24โฌ1.94
-57.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.8
$4.61โฌ3.99
-34.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$80.4
$4.45โฌ3.86
3.60%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Fรผrth
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$24.01
$1.30โฌ1.13
6.15%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$32.24
$2.14โฌ1.85
-13.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$28.11
$3.37โฌ2.92
-52.23%
Eggs
$2.59MX$45.26
$3.75โฌ3.25
-30.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$144
$15.03โฌ13.02
-45.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$146
$15.32โฌ13.28
-45.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$186
$20.92โฌ18.13
-49.04%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.89
$3.17โฌ2.75
-17.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.96
$1.73โฌ1.50
-13.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$33.50
$2.22โฌ1.93
-13.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.41
$5.03โฌ4.36
-58.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.42
$1.62โฌ1.40
14.81%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$39.47
$1.58โฌ1.37
43.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.54
$1.98โฌ1.71
-46.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.98
$1.17โฌ1.02
-6.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$72.4
$9.50โฌ8.24
-56.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$181
$6.25โฌ5.41
66.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$30.09
$1.05โฌ0.91
63.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.60
$1.67โฌ1.45
56.29%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Fรผrth
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.46
$3.47โฌ3.01
-84.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$470
$62.7โฌ54.3
-57.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.6
$3.99โฌ3.46
-21.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.82
$2.02โฌ1.75
24.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$55.0
$37.37โฌ32.39
-91.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.25
$1.97โฌ1.70
-35.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$530.1K
$31.8Kโฌ27.6K
-4.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$411.3K
$35.8Kโฌ31.0K
-34.16%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Fรผrth
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,449
$318โฌ276
-73.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$396
$29.32โฌ25.41
-22.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$514
$50.1โฌ43.41
-41.17%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Fรผrth
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$890
$39.53โฌ34.26
29.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$320
$23.07โฌ19.99
-20.55%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$86.0
$13.95โฌ12.09
-64.66%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Fรผrth
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,444
$275โฌ238
-28.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$92.1K
$8,073โฌ6,997
-34.60%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Fรผrth
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$644
$86.1โฌ74.6
-57.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$696
$46.58โฌ40.37
-14.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,396
$84.9โฌ73.6
-5.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,561
$117โฌ102
-23.80%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Fรผrth
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.7K
$824โฌ714
16.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,327
$661โฌ573
-27.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.7K
$1,519โฌ1,316
8.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.4K
$860โฌ746
42.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$68.4K
$5,000โฌ4,334
-21.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$112.7K
$3,500โฌ3,033
84.57%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Fรผrth
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.6K
$4,573โฌ3,964
-85.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
3.98
186.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Last update for Fรผrth: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $956 in Playa del Carmen and $824 in Fรผrth. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐFรผrth pays 586% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $58.0 in Fรผrth for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $359 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 Fรผrth: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fรผrth cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 59% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Fรผrth?
On paper, Fรผrth earns 586% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Fรผrth?
Rent for a central apartment: $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $824 in Fรผrth. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or Fรผrth?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen โ a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $58.0 in Fรผrth. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Fรผrth?
All in, you'll spend $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,024 in Fรผrth โ a 59% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Fรผrth?
At $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,024 in Fรผrth, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Fรผrth. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Fรผrth more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Fรผrth, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Fรผrth?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Fรผrth 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 โ expenses run 59% less than in Fรผrth. 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