๐A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,096 in Fรผssen, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,176 in Fรผssen, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,256 in Fรผssen, rent included.
๐Playa del Carmen is about 38% cheaper than Fรผssen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Fรผssen is 56% above โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Fรผssen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$17.32โฌ14.90
-32.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$720
$93.6โฌ80.5
-55.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$9.16โฌ7.88
16.16%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.9
$3.82โฌ3.28
-7.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.12
$2.74โฌ2.35
-44.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.84
$2.96โฌ2.54
-67.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$4.89โฌ4.21
-39.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$4.55โฌ3.91
-2.20%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Fรผssen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.93
$1.19โฌ1.02
15.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.72
$2.24โฌ1.93
-15.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.32
$3.28โฌ2.82
-50.00%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.34
$3.80โฌ3.27
-33.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$15.21โฌ13.08
-45.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$14.69โฌ12.64
-43.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$20.42โฌ17.56
-47.45%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.04
$2.88โฌ2.48
-9.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.20
$1.71โฌ1.47
-14.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.87
$1.97โฌ1.69
-3.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.91
$4.99โฌ4.29
-58.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.71
$1.71โฌ1.47
4.09%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.80
$1.63โฌ1.40
34.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.99
$2.03โฌ1.74
-48.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.62
$0.90โฌ0.78
20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.6
$8.08โฌ6.95
-49.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$6.24โฌ5.37
65.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.61
$1.04โฌ0.89
64.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.54
$1.24โฌ1.07
108.06%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Fรผssen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$3.73โฌ3.21
-86.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$458
$62.5โฌ53.8
-57.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$3.48โฌ3.00
-6.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.09
$1.85โฌ1.59
34.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.2
$28.77โฌ24.75
-88.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.61
$2.05โฌ1.76
-36.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.7K
$19.6Kโฌ16.9K
54.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$405.3K
$21.3Kโฌ18.3K
9.84%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Fรผssen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,433
$409โฌ352
-79.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$28.42โฌ24.45
-21.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$53.0โฌ45.59
-44.64%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Fรผssen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$893
$53.6โฌ46.07
-3.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
$23.18โฌ19.94
-20.97%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.6
$12.91โฌ11.11
-60.73%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Fรผssen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,473
$664โฌ571
-69.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$12.8Kโฌ11.0K
-59.36%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Fรผssen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$639
$46.87โฌ40.32
-21.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$25.99โฌ22.35
53.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,357
$57.9โฌ49.81
35.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,506
$160โฌ138
-45.70%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Fรผssen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$846โฌ728
14.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,090
$673โฌ579
-30.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$1,556โฌ1,339
5.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$1,219โฌ1,048
0.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.3K
$4,247โฌ3,653
-7.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.4K
$3,198โฌ2,751
103.20%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Fรผssen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
$1,485โฌ1,277
-55.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
3.97
187.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Last update for Fรผssen: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $846 in Fรผssen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐ฐSalaries run about 124% higher in Fรผssen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $94.0 in Fรผssen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $348 โ making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Fรผssen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fรผssen cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes โ Fรผssen is pricier by about 62%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,144 in Fรผssen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Fรผssen?
Groceries cost about 40% more in Fรผssen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or Fรผssen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $94.0 in Fรผssen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafรฉ pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Fรผssen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Fรผssen at $2,096. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fรผssen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Fรผssen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen โ lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Fรผssen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Fรผssen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared