Which place is cheaper, Fort-de-France or Playa del Carmen?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Playa del Carmen or Fort-de-France?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Fort-de-France? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Playa del Carmen or Fort-de-France?
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is in Quintana Roo on the Yucatan Peninsula. It's a popular resort town and is about seventy kilometers south of Cancun. It has a European atmosphere with many small hotels and a nice relaxed feel. It was originally a small fishing town but tourism began with the introduction of a passenger ferry to Cozumel. The area developed rapidly and there are many luxury hotels, condos, and resorts. There are also American chains and a variety of shopping opportunities nearby.
Fort-de-France
As the largest city and capital of Martinique, Fort-de-France serves as the main entryway for visitors traveling to the island. It is a busy city with a significant population, which creates an atmosphere bustling with traffic amidst its historic and cultural sights.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPlaya del Carmen $81Fort-de-France $163
The average daily cost (per person) in Playa del Carmen is $81, while the average daily cost in Fort-de-France is $163. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Playa del Carmen and Fort-de-France in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPlaya del Carmen $40Fort-de-France $84
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPlaya del Carmen $80Fort-de-France $168
Compare Hotels in Playa del Carmen and Fort-de-France
Looking for a hotel in Playa del Carmen or Fort-de-France? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Playa del Carmen Hotel Prices and Fort-de-France Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Playa del Carmen $24Fort-de-France $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Playa del Carmen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:
- One Way Private Transfer from Playa del Carmen to Coba: $276
- Airport Transfers to Playa del Carmen - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $227
- Private Transfer to Cenote at Tulum: $213
- Transfers in Lincoln StretchLimo from Puerto Aventuras-Cun Airport.: $194
- Cancun Airport Round Trip transfer to Puerto Aventuras: $190
- 2x1 Tour: Isla Contoy, Isla Mujeres, Open Bar, Lunch and Transfers: $190
- Wedding Transfers Services in Round Trip Playa del Carmen: $180
- Roundtrip Private Transfer Playa del Carmen from CUN: $173
- Private Transfer From Cancún Airport - Puerto Aventuras: $163
- Contoy and Mujeres Islands Tour with Transfer Options: $159
- Tour Bacalar Ponton with Transfer from Cancun & Playa del Carmen : $147
- Access to Xel-Há Park with Transfer: $145
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fort-de-France
Also for Fort-de-France, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Fort de France to Martinique Airport (FDF) - Departure Transfer: $66
- Private Transfer from Fort de France to Fort de France Port: $71
- Private Transfer from Martinique Airport to Fort de France Port: $71
- Private transfer Fort de France Airport to and from Les Trois Ilets: $103
Is it cheaper to fly into Playa del Carmen or Fort-de-France?
Prices for flights to both Fort-de-France and Playa del Carmen change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayPlaya del Carmen $24Fort-de-France $62
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Playa del Carmen
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Playa del Carmen.
- Cenotes by Bike and Mayan Cooking Class Half-Day Guided Tour: $60
- Walking Food Tour: $65
- Playa Del Carmen Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $75
- Playa del Carmen Walking Food Tour: $77
- Mexican Cooking Class: $100
- Seafood Tour in Playa del Carmen: $101
- PDC Traditional Mexican Cooking Experience: $104
- Authentic Mexican Cooking Class in Playa del Carmen: $120
- Isa’s Authentic Mexican Cooking Class: $120
- Cultural Coba Sunset Adventure with Dinner and show from Cancun: $130
- Sunset Adventure in Coba and Dinner with Show from Riviera Maya: $155
- Riviera Maya: Sunset Cruise with Beach Dinner and Open Bar: $157
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Fort-de-France
For Fort-de-France, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Food tour in the rainforest and St Pierre - Pile et Face: $104
- Private Food Tour of Martinique in Fort-de-France: $199
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Playa del Carmen $17Fort-de-France $33
Tours and Activities in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few actual costs in Playa del Carmen for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Romantic tour in Akumal: $115
- Tulum Ruins, Turtle Sightseeing & Underground Cenote from Tulum: $140
- VIP Cenote Scuba Tour, Certified Divers Only: $230
- 3 in 1 Private Tour Tulum Cenote and Snorkeling in the reef: $210
- 3D Museum of Wonders Admission Ticket: $42
- 5X1: Tulum and Coba Ruins, Cenote & Mayan Village Full Day Tour : $114
- ATV Adventure with Ziplines Cenote from Playa del Carmen: $75
- ATV Extreme and Snorkel Adventure from the Riviera Maya: $139
- ATV Ride and Secret Caves Tour from Playa del Carmen: $80
- ATV Shared & Ziplines Adventure in Tulum Jungle from Riviera Maya: $133
- ATV Shared, Cavern & Ziplines -Jungle Adventure from Riviera Maya: $158
- ATV Xtreme & Snorkel Experience: $138
Tours and Activities in Fort-de-France
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Fort-de-France.
- Habitation Clement - entrance ticket: $15
- Admission Ticket Balata's Garden: $19
- Small train tour of a banana farm in Martinique: $22
- Fort-de-France Private 2-Hour Walking Tour: $26
- Mangrove Guided Tour: $43
- Martinique: The Jewels of the Southern Caribbean Tour: $63
- Martinique: Coral and Turtle Coves Cruise with Snacks: $64
- Martinique: Half-Day Dolphin and Volcano Cruise: $64
- Fort-de-France Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tour: $64
- Karaib Tour: $66
- Martinique Shore Excursion - Unmissable Martinique North tour: $75
- Martinique Shore Excursion - Authentic Tour of Southern Martinique: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPlaya del Carmen $21Fort-de-France $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Fort-de-France
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Fort-de-France:
- Small-Group Tour: Unmissable Martinique with Rum Distillery, Ruins, and More: $75
- North Tour: rainforest, rum distillery, black sand beach etc: $120
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Playa del Carmen and Fort-de-France, we can see that Fort-de-France is more expensive. And not only is Playa del Carmen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Playa del Carmen is in North America and Fort-de-France is in Caribbean Islands, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Playa del Carmen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Playa del Carmen and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Fort-de-France would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fort-de-France than you might in Playa del Carmen.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Playa del Carmen Expensive? and Is Fort-de-France Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Playa del Carmen or Fort-de-France?
Fort-de-France has a larger population, and is about 66% larger than the population of Playa del Carmen. When comparing the sizes of Playa del Carmen and Fort-de-France, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.