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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,486 in Hachioji versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,177 in Hachioji versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,868 in Hachioji versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Hachioji is roughly 17% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Hachioji is 9% above, Playa del Carmen is 7% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hachioji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.40 ¥846
$11.60 MX$200
-53.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.79 ¥4,987
$47.11 MX$811
-32.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.80 ¥752
$11.88 MX$205
-59.60%
Cappuccino
$3.25 ¥509
$3.98 MX$68.5
-18.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 ¥135
$1.43 MX$24.57
-39.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 ¥103
$0.82 MX$14.20
-19.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.62 ¥410
$3.19 MX$54.9
-17.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 ¥523
$6.79 MX$117
-50.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hachioji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.30 ¥204
$1.68 MX$28.85
-22.62%
White Bread (500g)
$1.49 ¥234
$2.20 MX$37.83
-32.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.46 ¥700
$1.71 MX$29.41
160.82%
Eggs
$2.18 ¥342
$2.74 MX$47.20
-20.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.13 ¥1,745
$9.58 MX$165
16.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.64 ¥1,041
$9.01 MX$155
-26.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.93 ¥2,812
$12.81 MX$221
39.97%
Apples (1kg)
$5.12 ¥804
$2.89 MX$49.74
77.16%
Banana (1kg)
$2.37 ¥372
$1.50 MX$25.78
58.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.17 ¥497
$2.15 MX$36.98
47.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.31 ¥676
$2.26 MX$38.91
90.71%
Potato (1kg)
$2.60 ¥407
$1.98 MX$34.10
31.31%
Onion (1kg)
$2.46 ¥386
$1.99 MX$34.26
23.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.29 ¥202
$1.23 MX$21.25
4.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ¥132
$1.20 MX$20.60
-30.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.00 ¥627
$4.55 MX$78.3
-12.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.61 ¥1,193
$10.37 MX$179
-26.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.65 ¥416
$1.62 MX$27.88
63.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 ¥332
$2.88 MX$49.60
-26.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Hachioji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.91 ¥143
$0.60 MX$10.34
51.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$58.7 ¥9,206
$28.80 MX$496
103.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 ¥511
$5.39 MX$92.8
-39.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.82 ¥599
$3.73 MX$64.2
2.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.86 ¥3,115
$5.77 MX$99.3
244.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 ¥166
$1.54 MX$26.45
-31.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7K ¥3.4M
$22.5K MX$388.3K
-3.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.5K ¥2.4M
$26.1K MX$448.7K
-40.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hachioji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$135 ¥21.2K
$91.4 MX$1,573
47.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.48 ¥3,369
$25.20 MX$434
-14.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.66 ¥5,751
$31.24 MX$538
17.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hachioji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 ¥8,162
$67.2 MX$1,157
-22.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.86 ¥4,056
$29.11 MX$501
-11.16%
Cinema Ticket
$13.58 ¥2,129
$4.86 MX$83.7
179.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hachioji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$517 ¥81.1K
$224 MX$3,851
131.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.7K ¥1.8M
$4,229 MX$72.8K
175.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hachioji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.4 ¥7,904
$47.10 MX$811
6.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.99 ¥5,175
$44.29 MX$763
-25.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.2 ¥9,592
$80.1 MX$1,379
-23.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.1 ¥14.6K
$92.7 MX$1,596
0.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hachioji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$961 ¥150.7K
$1,063 MX$18.3K
-9.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$576 ¥90.3K
$390 MX$6,719
47.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,648 ¥258.5K
$2,149 MX$37.0K
-23.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$958 ¥150.2K
$1,272 MX$21.9K
-24.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,818 ¥598.9K
$4,001 MX$68.9K
-4.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,813 ¥284.4K
$6,502 MX$112.0K
-72.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hachioji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,796 ¥438.5K
$758 MX$13.1K
268.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.09
11.45
-81.75%

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

Last update for Hachioji: September 14, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $961 in Hachioji and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hachioji pays 269% 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: $32.00 in Hachioji vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $310 vs $276, with Playa del Carmen cheaper for home cooking.

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
Hachioji vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hachioji or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Hachioji. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Hachioji or in Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 269% higher in Hachioji, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Hachioji compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $961 in Hachioji versus $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Hachioji or in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Hachioji. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Hachioji and in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $32.00 in Hachioji. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Hachioji or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,486 in Hachioji, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Hachioji. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Hachioji or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,266 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Hachioji compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Hachioji 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Hachioji. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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