Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Passo Fundo Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Passo Fundo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $678 in Passo Fundo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,120 in Passo Fundo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,562 in Passo Fundo.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 85% more expensive than in Passo Fundo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Passo Fundo 49% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Passo Fundo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$209
$5.43 R$27.66
120.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78 MX$728
$27.20 R$138
53.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.75 MX$187
$6.18 R$31.46
73.95%
Cappuccino
$3.50 MX$60.9
$0.92 R$4.68
280.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.22
$1.10 R$5.60
31.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 MX$15.41
$0.52 R$2.63
69.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.3
$1.45 R$7.38
103.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51 MX$78.6
$1.78 R$9.07
153.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Passo Fundo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$0.86 R$4.36
66.28%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 MX$31.99
$1.45 R$7.41
26.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$27.31
$1.09 R$5.57
44.04%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.74
$2.07 R$10.52
21.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.28 MX$144
$6.00 R$30.56
38.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 MX$147
$4.66 R$23.74
80.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.68 MX$186
$9.28 R$47.24
15.09%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 MX$45.43
$2.06 R$10.47
26.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$25.04
$0.73 R$3.73
97.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 MX$34.16
$1.28 R$6.52
53.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$36.47
$0.71 R$3.59
194.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$32.24
$1.10 R$5.58
68.18%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.74
$1.06 R$5.41
104.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 MX$17.96
$0.63 R$3.23
63.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.70
$0.62 R$3.17
72.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10 MX$71.4
$1.92 R$9.80
113.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.17 MX$177
$7.80 R$39.70
30.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$29.17
$0.75 R$3.83
124.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 MX$43.98
$1.81 R$9.20
39.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Passo Fundo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.87
$0.88 R$4.47
-42.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.04 MX$453
$39.13 R$199
-33.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.3
$1.11 R$5.65
190.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.41 MX$41.88
$1.05 R$5.36
129.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.2
$5.30 R$27.00
-39.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$23.00
$1.06 R$5.40
24.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K MX$517.1K
$24.7K R$125.9K
20.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K MX$412.0K
$27.7K R$141.2K
-14.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Passo Fundo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,428
$33.94 R$173
141.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95 MX$400
$6.79 R$34.55
238.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11 MX$524
$17.31 R$88.2
73.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Passo Fundo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$905
$18.00 R$91.6
188.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53 MX$323
$21.66 R$110
-14.45%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98 MX$86.6
$4.38 R$22.32
13.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Passo Fundo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,438
$314 R$1,599
-37.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,336 MX$92.9K
$7,169 R$36.5K
-25.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Passo Fundo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60 MX$620
$48.41 R$246
-26.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33 MX$702
$54.8 R$279
-26.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 MX$1,371
$80.5 R$410
-2.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,549
$61.8 R$315
43.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Passo Fundo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$947 MX$16.5K
$317 R$1,613
198.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,254
$177 R$900
168.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,644 MX$28.6K
$636 R$3,240
158.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,211 MX$21.1K
$367 R$1,867
230.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,056 MX$70.6K
$848 R$4,318
378.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,470 MX$112.7K
$630 R$3,208
926.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Passo Fundo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 MX$11.4K
$684 R$3,483
-4.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
10
14.20%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Last update for Passo Fundo: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $947 in Playa del Carmen and $317 in Passo Fundo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Passo Fundo pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $27.00 in Passo Fundo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $167 per month, with Passo Fundo 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 Passo Fundo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Passo Fundo cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Passo Fundo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 85% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Passo Fundo?
On paper, salaries run 5% lower in Passo Fundo. 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 Passo Fundo?
Rent for a central apartment: $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $317 in Passo Fundo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Passo Fundo?
Dining out is cheaper in Passo Fundo – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Passo Fundo?
All in, you'll spend $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $678 in Passo Fundo – a 85% 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 Passo Fundo?
At $678 in Passo Fundo versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Passo Fundo but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Passo Fundo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Passo Fundo more family-friendly?
For families, Passo Fundo is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Passo Fundo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 85% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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