😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,339 in Hachioji versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,015 in Hachioji versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,690 in Hachioji versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Hachioji is roughly 3% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Hachioji is 0% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hachioji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.88¥1,101
$11.73MX$203
-41.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.91¥5,583
$41.62MX$721
-16.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.42¥867
$10.64MX$184
-49.06%
Cappuccino
$3.16¥505
$3.52MX$61.0
-10.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10¥176
$1.51MX$26.17
-27.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80¥128
$0.97MX$16.87
-17.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.55¥408
$2.95MX$51.1
-13.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15¥505
$4.45MX$77.2
-29.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hachioji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.52¥244
$1.38MX$23.97
10.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.58¥253
$1.89MX$32.78
-16.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.73¥756
$1.64MX$28.37
188.41%
Eggs
$2.24¥358
$2.51MX$43.42
-10.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06¥1,608
$8.34MX$145
20.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.20¥991
$8.34MX$145
-25.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53¥2,484
$10.73MX$186
44.73%
Apples(1kg)
$5.48¥876
$2.60MX$45.12
110.77%
Banana(1kg)
$2.60¥417
$1.46MX$25.25
78.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.91¥626
$1.90MX$32.94
105.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.85¥936
$2.08MX$35.98
181.25%
Potato(1kg)
$3.13¥500
$1.78MX$30.77
75.84%
Onion(1kg)
$2.63¥421
$2.19MX$37.87
20.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40¥224
$1.04MX$18.02
34.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83¥133
$1.08MX$18.66
-23.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23¥677
$4.08MX$70.7
3.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.71¥1,393
$10.32MX$179
-15.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90¥304
$1.71MX$29.67
11.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23¥356
$2.58MX$44.63
-13.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Hachioji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.67¥267
$0.51MX$8.83
227.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.7¥8,902
$26.46MX$459
110.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.39¥543
$3.26MX$56.5
3.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.91¥466
$2.49MX$43.17
16.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.11¥3,377
$3.25MX$56.3
549.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19¥190
$1.31MX$22.65
-9.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3K¥3.7M
$30.3KMX$524.7K
-23.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.3K¥2.8M
$23.4KMX$406.0K
-26.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hachioji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$143¥22.9K
$82.9MX$1,436
72.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.00¥4,319
$22.22MX$385
21.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.48¥5,355
$29.34MX$508
14.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hachioji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.6¥8,897
$51.6MX$895
7.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.00¥2,240
$18.32MX$317
-23.58%
Cinema Ticket
$12.38¥1,980
$5.07MX$87.8
144.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hachioji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$277¥44.3K
$201MX$3,480
37.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.4K¥2.2M
$5,212MX$90.3K
157.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hachioji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.72¥6,994
$36.92MX$640
18.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.49¥4,716
$39.79MX$689
-25.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.9¥9,417
$78.5MX$1,360
-24.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.2¥14.6K
$87.1MX$1,509
4.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hachioji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$668¥106.8K
$973MX$16.9K
-31.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$436¥69.7K
$468MX$8,105
-6.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$851¥136.0K
$1,641MX$28.4K
-48.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$657¥105.1K
$1,221MX$21.2K
-46.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,585¥733.4K
$3,946MX$68.4K
16.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,421¥387.2K
$6,498MX$112.6K
-62.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hachioji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,741¥438.4K
$664MX$11.5K
312.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.78
11.42
-84.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hachioji: June 1, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $668 in Hachioji and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hachioji pays 313% 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: $35.00 in Hachioji vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $316 vs $249, 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 3% 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 Playa del Carmen?
Hachioji pays 313% more on average, 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $668 in Hachioji versus $973 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 Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 27% higher in Hachioji. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Hachioji vs Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $35.00 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 Playa del Carmen?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,339 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 $1,297 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 3% less than in Hachioji. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.