😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,607 in East Hampton, NY versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,791 in East Hampton, NY versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,976 in East Hampton, NY versus $3,362 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in East Hampton, NY is roughly 100% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: East Hampton, NY is 89% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
East Hampton, NY
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.01$20.01
$11.96MX$203
67.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.4$75.4
$47.38MX$804
59.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.55$11.55
$11.75MX$199
-1.70%
Cappuccino
$5.46$5.46
$4.12MX$70.0
32.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62$2.62
$1.40MX$23.74
87.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01$2.01
$0.91MX$15.48
120.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.98$5.98
$3.21MX$54.4
86.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.21$7.21
$7.07MX$120
1.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
East Hampton, NY
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04$1.04
$1.68MX$28.44
-38.10%
White Bread(500g)
$3.57$3.57
$2.15MX$36.48
66.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.32$4.32
$1.77MX$30.10
144.07%
Eggs
$4.20$4.20
$2.82MX$47.76
48.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.23$12.23
$9.20MX$156
32.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.53$11.53
$9.23MX$157
24.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.43$16.43
$12.64MX$214
29.98%
Apples(1kg)
$4.94$4.94
$2.95MX$50.1
67.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.60$1.60
$1.58MX$26.79
1.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.77$4.77
$2.22MX$37.70
114.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.33$4.33
$2.36MX$40.09
83.47%
Potato(1kg)
$2.76$2.76
$1.99MX$33.81
38.69%
Onion(1kg)
$2.93$2.93
$1.98MX$33.58
47.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.45$2.45
$1.24MX$21.04
97.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.37$2.37
$1.21MX$20.55
95.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.92$9.92
$4.60MX$78.1
115.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.26$15.26
$10.52MX$178
45.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04$2.04
$1.69MX$28.70
20.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83$2.83
$2.77MX$47.06
2.17%
🚌 Getting Around
East Hampton, NY
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.15$2.15
$0.60MX$10.22
258.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.70MX$504
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03$3.03
$5.24MX$88.8
-42.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.79$1.79
$3.65MX$61.9
-50.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.88$28.88
$5.78MX$98.1
399.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.98$0.98
$1.54MX$26.09
-36.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.5K$37.5K
$22.8KMX$386.8K
64.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K$24.2K
$25.8KMX$437.9K
-6.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
East Hampton, NY
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$178$178
$90.7MX$1,538
95.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.4$60.4
$25.19MX$427
139.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.6$76.6
$31.75MX$539
141.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
East Hampton, NY
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.36$47.36
$68.8MX$1,167
-31.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.37MX$498
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.15$13.15
$4.86MX$82.5
170.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
East Hampton, NY
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,298$1,298
$226MX$3,828
475.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$25.4K$25.4K
$4,194MX$71.1K
506.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
East Hampton, NY
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0$57.0
$47.38MX$804
20.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.14$38.14
$43.45MX$737
-12.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.2$94.2
$80.2MX$1,361
17.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105$105
$91.4MX$1,550
15.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
East Hampton, NY
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,586$1,586
$1,086MX$18.4K
46.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,180$1,180
$409MX$6,933
188.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,656$2,656
$1,972MX$33.5K
34.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,063$2,063
$1,281MX$21.7K
60.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,038$3,038
$4,046MX$68.6K
-24.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,559$2,559
$6,704MX$113.7K
-61.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
East Hampton, NY
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$773MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.12
11.45
-46.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for East Hampton, NY: September 6, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,586 in East Hampton, NY and $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $75.0 in East Hampton, NY vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $398 vs $278 per month, with Playa del Carmen 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
East Hampton, NY vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than East Hampton, NY?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 100% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,910 in East Hampton, NY and $1,958 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between East Hampton, NY and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,586 in East Hampton, NY versus $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in East Hampton, NY and in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 43% higher in East Hampton, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in East Hampton, NY and in Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,607 per month in East Hampton, NY versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen – a 100% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in East Hampton, NY or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,607 in East Hampton, NY, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in East Hampton, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is East Hampton, NY or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in East Hampton, NY, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, East Hampton, NY or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, East Hampton, NY 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 100% less than in East Hampton, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
East Hampton, NY vs other spots: cost of living compared