Cost of Living Comparison Between Choluteca and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Choluteca and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $266 per month in Choluteca vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $340 per month in Choluteca vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $414 per month in Choluteca vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Choluteca is about 79% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Choluteca and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Choluteca 80% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 MX$210

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$731

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$188

Cappuccino

$3.50 MX$61.1

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

$1.45 MX$25.33

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 MX$15.47

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$78.9

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$25.04

White Bread (500g)

$1.13 HNL 30.21

$1.84 MX$32.13

-38.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.15 HNL 57.4

$1.57 MX$27.42

36.94%

Eggs

$1.21 HNL 32.38

$2.51 MX$43.92

-51.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 MX$145

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.26 HNL 60.5

$8.43 MX$147

-73.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 MX$187

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 HNL 59.8

$2.61 MX$45.62

-14.18%

Banana (1kg)

$2.18 HNL 58.4

$1.44 MX$25.15

51.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 HNL 60.3

$1.96 MX$34.31

15.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 HNL 60.3

$2.09 MX$36.62

7.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.23 HNL 59.7

$1.85 MX$32.37

20.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.24 HNL 59.8

$2.17 MX$37.90

3.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 HNL 27.16

$1.03 MX$18.04

-0.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 HNL 25.97

$1.07 MX$18.78

-9.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$71.7

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 HNL 39.19

$1.68 MX$29.29

-12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 HNL 26.39

$2.53 MX$44.17

-60.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.90

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$455

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.5

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$42.06

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$23.10

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

$29.7K MX$519.2K

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

$23.7K MX$413.7K

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

$103 HNL 2,746

$82.0 MX$1,434

25.24%

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

$22.95 MX$401

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.1 HNL 1,392

$30.11 MX$527

72.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$909

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$324

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$87.0

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

$197 MX$3,452

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$93.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$622

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$705

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,377

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,555

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,288

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$70.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$113.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for Choluteca: July 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 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

Choluteca vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 373%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $398 per month in Choluteca and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $266 in Choluteca and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 113% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Choluteca, where all-in costs run around $266, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Choluteca it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Choluteca – 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 Choluteca. 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.