Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Vieux Fort Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Vieux Fort

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,293 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $104 in Vieux Fort, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $160 in Vieux Fort, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,374 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $215 in Vieux Fort, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 1142% more than Vieux Fort, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Vieux Fort are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Vieux Fort 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.71 MX$198

$8.21 EC$22.16

42.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.59 MX$786

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.65 MX$197

$9.38 EC$25.33

24.20%

Cappuccino

$4.09 MX$69.1

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 MX$23.20

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 MX$14.07

$1.18 EC$3.18

-29.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.35 MX$56.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.91 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 MX$29.15

White Bread (500g)

$2.26 MX$38.15

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MX$29.86

Eggs

$2.73 MX$46.12

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.18 MX$155

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.92 MX$151

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.60 MX$213

Apples (1kg)

$3.02 MX$51.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 MX$26.51

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 MX$35.88

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.22

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 MX$33.82

Onion (1kg)

$2.06 MX$34.85

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 MX$19.91

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.32

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.63 MX$78.2

Wine (Bottle)

$10.69 MX$180

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.33

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$48.63

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 MX$9.68

$1.46 EC$3.95

-60.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.83 MX$503

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 MX$91.9

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.70 MX$62.5

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 MX$101

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MX$26.22

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.3K MX$376.8K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.9K MX$438.0K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$89.1 MX$1,504

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.04 MX$423

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.50 MX$532

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.8 MX$1,144

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.92 MX$488

Cinema Ticket

$5.05 MX$85.2

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$225 MX$3,797

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,222 MX$71.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.44 MX$801

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.98 MX$759

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 MX$1,384

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.1 MX$1,555

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,069 MX$18.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 MX$6,842

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,935 MX$32.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,301 MX$22.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,995 MX$67.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,626 MX$111.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$749 MX$12.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Last update for Vieux Fort: September 1, 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 Vieux Fort: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 1142%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,940 per month in Playa del Carmen and $156 in Vieux Fort. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Vieux Fort, where all-in costs run around $104, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Vieux Fort it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Vieux Fort – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Vieux Fort. 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.