Cost of Living Comparison Between Dong Hoi and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Dong Hoi and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $698 in Dong Hoi versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,043 in Dong Hoi versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,387 in Dong Hoi versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Dong Hoi costs roughly 46% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dong Hoi 48% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.14 ₫29.9K

$11.73 MX$203

-90.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.67 ₫306.7K

$41.62 MX$720

-71.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.74 ₫124.4K

$10.64 MX$184

-55.45%

Cappuccino

$1.42 ₫37.2K

$3.52 MX$60.9

-59.66%

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

$0.54 ₫14.2K

$1.51 MX$26.12

-64.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₫8,260

$0.97 MX$16.84

-68.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.76 ₫20.1K

$2.95 MX$51.0

-74.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 ₫31.1K

$4.45 MX$77.0

-73.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 ₫36.3K

$1.38 MX$23.93

White Bread (500g)

$0.92 ₫24.1K

$1.89 MX$32.72

-51.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 ₫30.8K

$1.64 MX$28.32

-28.66%

Eggs

$1.45 ₫38.2K

$2.51 MX$43.34

-42.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.32 ₫323.7K

$8.34 MX$144

47.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.36 ₫88.3K

$8.34 MX$144

-59.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.62 ₫252.8K

$10.73 MX$186

-10.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ₫72.3K

$2.60 MX$45.04

5.77%

Banana (1kg)

$0.92 ₫24.1K

$1.46 MX$25.20

-36.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 ₫29.6K

$1.90 MX$32.87

-40.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 ₫28.7K

$2.08 MX$35.91

-47.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 ₫28.9K

$1.78 MX$30.71

-38.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ₫31.6K

$2.19 MX$37.80

-45.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₫26.4K

$1.04 MX$17.99

-3.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₫13.6K

$1.08 MX$18.62

-51.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.37 ₫36.0K

$4.08 MX$70.6

-66.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.51 ₫197.3K

$10.32 MX$178

-27.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₫21.1K

$1.71 MX$29.61

-53.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 ₫43.4K

$2.58 MX$44.54

-36.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 ₫8,245

$0.51 MX$8.81

-39.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.38 ₫167.6K

$26.46 MX$458

-75.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 ₫23.3K

$3.26 MX$56.4

-73.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₫18.2K

$2.49 MX$43.09

-72.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.83 ₫74.3K

$3.25 MX$56.2

-12.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 ₫22.4K

$1.31 MX$22.61

-35.11%

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

$26.7K ₫702.0M

$30.3K MX$523.7K

-11.76%

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

$28.8K ₫756.7M

$23.4K MX$405.3K

22.91%

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

$65.6 ₫1.7M

$82.9 MX$1,433

-20.79%

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

$5.79 ₫152.0K

$22.22 MX$384

-73.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.46 ₫222.2K

$29.34 MX$507

-71.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.97 ₫551.0K

$51.6 MX$893

-59.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.44 ₫195.5K

$18.32 MX$317

-59.39%

Cinema Ticket

$3.04 ₫79.8K

$5.07 MX$87.6

-40.04%

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

$154 ₫4.0M

$201 MX$3,473

-23.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₫337.5M

$5,212 MX$90.1K

146.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.70 ₫1.0M

$36.92 MX$639

7.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.65 ₫673.8K

$39.79 MX$688

-35.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.5 ₫1.4M

$78.5 MX$1,357

-33.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.3 ₫2.0M

$87.1 MX$1,506

-11.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$353 ₫9.3M

$973 MX$16.8K

-63.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$249 ₫6.5M

$468 MX$8,090

-46.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$678 ₫17.8M

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-58.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 ₫12.5M

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-61.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,224 ₫111.0M

$3,946 MX$68.3K

7.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,652 ₫43.4M

$6,498 MX$112.4K

-74.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$394 ₫10.4M

$664 MX$11.5K

-40.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

-38.70%

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

Last update for Dong Hoi: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $353 in Dong Hoi and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 68% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $12.00 in Dong Hoi vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $249 per month, with Dong Hoi 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

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

Dong Hoi and Playa del Carmen differ by about 86% in total monthly costs ($698 vs $1,297 including rent). Dong Hoi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Playa del Carmen earns 68% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $353 in Dong Hoi versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $698 per month in Dong Hoi versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – a 86% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dong Hoi runs roughly 315% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $698 in Dong Hoi versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dong Hoi but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Dong Hoi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Dong Hoi and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Dong Hoi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.