Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ha Dong and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Ha Dong: $794 a month against $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $4,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Ha Dong, Vietnam
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Ha Dong
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$794
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ha Dong and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ha Dong and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $794 per month in Ha Dong vs $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Ha Dong $794
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

A couple spends around $1,278 per month in Ha Dong vs $2,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Ha Dong $1,278
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

A family of three spends $1,762 per month in Ha Dong vs $2,959 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Ha Dong $1,762
  • Playa del Carmen $2,959

Ha Dong is about 34% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Ha Dong and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Ha Dong 42% lower, Playa del Carmen 12% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ha Dong
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.99 ₫51.5K
$10.92 MX$204
-81.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.71 ₫586.6K
$43.37 MX$808
-47.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.43 ₫114.5K
$11.78 MX$220
-62.39%
Cappuccino
$1.86 ₫48.2K
$3.81 MX$71.0
-51.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 ₫13.4K
$1.28 MX$23.90
-59.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ₫8,654
$0.78 MX$14.59
-56.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.11 ₫28.7K
$3.17 MX$59.0
-64.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 ₫51.3K
$4.93 MX$92.0
-59.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ha Dong
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 ₫39.4K
$1.41 MX$26.22
8.51%
White Bread (500g)
$1.12 ₫29.0K
$2.22 MX$41.33
-49.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.77 ₫19.8K
$1.42 MX$26.42
-45.77%
Eggs
$1.44 ₫37.1K
$2.52 MX$47.03
-42.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.87 ₫306.7K
$7.26 MX$135
63.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.62 ₫93.5K
$7.70 MX$143
-52.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.20 ₫263.4K
$12.69 MX$237
-19.62%
Apples (1kg)
$3.27 ₫84.5K
$2.78 MX$51.9
17.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.03 ₫26.6K
$1.37 MX$25.50
-24.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.31 ₫33.9K
$2.55 MX$47.55
-48.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.11 ₫28.7K
$2.12 MX$39.58
-47.64%
Potato (1kg)
$0.92 ₫23.7K
$1.94 MX$36.13
-52.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 ₫28.1K
$1.89 MX$35.16
-42.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.59 ₫15.1K
$1.15 MX$21.37
-48.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ₫13.3K
$1.18 MX$21.98
-55.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.42 ₫36.7K
$4.30 MX$80.1
-66.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.66 ₫327.1K
$9.95 MX$185
27.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 ₫24.9K
$1.58 MX$29.52
-39.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₫45.2K
$2.67 MX$49.79
-34.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Ha Dong
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 ₫8,122
$0.55 MX$10.31
-43.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.51 ₫168.2K
$26.62 MX$496
-75.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 ₫19.0K
$4.97 MX$92.6
-85.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 ₫15.5K
$3.33 MX$62.1
-81.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.28 ₫58.9K
$5.36 MX$99.8
-57.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 ₫22.8K
$1.44 MX$26.92
-38.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K ₫793.9M
$20.7K MX$385.2K
48.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.4K ₫758.4M
$23.5K MX$437.4K
25.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ha Dong
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.7 ₫2.2M
$84.8 MX$1,581
2.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.38 ₫139.1K
$23.41 MX$436
-77.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.89 ₫229.6K
$28.66 MX$534
-68.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ha Dong
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.54 ₫608.1K
$57.1 MX$1,063
-58.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.69 ₫198.7K
$28.91 MX$539
-73.40%
Cinema Ticket
$4.37 ₫112.8K
$5.14 MX$95.8
-14.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ha Dong
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$246 ₫6.4M
$207 MX$3,851
19.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K ₫327.5M
$3,927 MX$73.2K
222.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ha Dong
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.83 ₫1.3M
$43.35 MX$808
12.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.19 ₫676.6K
$41.44 MX$772
-36.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.5 ₫2.2M
$74.2 MX$1,383
12.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 ₫2.0M
$89.3 MX$1,664
-11.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ha Dong
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$407 ₫10.5M
$980 MX$18.3K
-58.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$278 ₫7.2M
$381 MX$7,099
-26.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$820 ₫21.2M
$1,708 MX$31.8K
-51.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$625 ₫16.2M
$1,075 MX$20.0K
-41.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,226 ₫57.5M
$3,943 MX$73.5K
-43.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,228 ₫31.7M
$6,158 MX$114.8K
-80.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ha Dong
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$735 MX$13.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.28
11.45
-27.69%

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

Last update for Ha Dong: October 25, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ha Dong
$278
Playa del Carmen
$381 36.9% $103
Groceries & Markets
Ha Dong
$200
Playa del Carmen
$255 27.4% $55
Clothing & Footwear
Ha Dong
$107
Playa del Carmen
$112 4.6% $4.9
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ha Dong
$101
Playa del Carmen
$137 35.5% $36
Eating Out
Ha Dong
$65
Playa del Carmen
$202 214% $138
Sport & Entertainment
Ha Dong
$32
Playa del Carmen
$67 109% $35
Getting Around
Ha Dong
$12
Playa del Carmen
$50 338% $39

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $407 in Ha Dong versus $980 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23 in Ha Dong versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $200 vs $255 – making Ha Dong the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇻🇳 Ha Dong
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
23:07 11:07 PM
11:07 11:07 AM
12 h behind Ha Dong
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
50,877
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to VND – Vietnamese Dong Converter

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 25,832 VND (100,000 VND = 3.87 USD). 1 EUR = 28,750 VND (100,000 VND = 3.48 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ha Dong Playa del Carmen 15,190 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ha Dong
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Ha Dong vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ha Dong or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen costs about 52% more than Ha Dong, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ha Dong and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,191 per month in Ha Dong and $1,806 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ha Dong or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ha Dong, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $407 there versus $980 in Playa del Carmen.
How do dining costs compare in Ha Dong and in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $23 in Ha Dong and $43 in Playa del Carmen. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Ha Dong compared to Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $794 in Ha Dong and $1,204 in Playa del Carmen. That’s a gap of about 52%.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ha Dong or Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $794 in Ha Dong to $1,204 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, Ha Dong is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and the 52% gap matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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