Cost of Living Comparison Between Hai Duong and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Hai Duong and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $711 per month in Hai Duong vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,125 per month in Hai Duong vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,539 per month in Hai Duong vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Hai Duong is about 44% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Hai Duong and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Hai Duong 47% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 ₫51.2K

$11.87 MX$204

-83.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.43 ₫562.4K

$42.90 MX$736

-50.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.43 ₫116.3K

$10.65 MX$183

-58.40%

Cappuccino

$1.55 ₫40.7K

$3.45 MX$59.2

-55.07%

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

$0.50 ₫13.2K

$1.50 MX$25.81

-66.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ₫7,288

$0.95 MX$16.28

-70.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.00 ₫26.2K

$3.03 MX$51.9

-67.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₫39.1K

$4.61 MX$79.1

-67.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 ₫35.9K

$1.38 MX$23.61

-0.72%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 ₫25.8K

$1.85 MX$31.70

-47.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 ₫24.2K

$1.61 MX$27.65

-42.86%

Eggs

$1.40 ₫36.7K

$2.59 MX$44.51

-45.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.65 ₫305.9K

$8.26 MX$142

41.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 ₫98.1K

$8.37 MX$144

-55.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ₫261.0K

$10.66 MX$183

-6.75%

Apples (1kg)

$2.67 ₫70.2K

$2.63 MX$45.12

1.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ₫28.1K

$1.49 MX$25.53

-28.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 ₫35.6K

$1.92 MX$32.94

-29.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 ₫29.7K

$2.09 MX$35.81

-45.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.08 ₫28.3K

$1.86 MX$31.88

-41.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 ₫27.4K

$2.26 MX$38.81

-53.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 ₫15.4K

$1.06 MX$18.23

-44.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₫13.7K

$1.09 MX$18.67

-52.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.38 ₫36.1K

$4.15 MX$71.2

-66.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 ₫289.9K

$10.39 MX$178

6.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₫20.8K

$1.72 MX$29.59

-54.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 ₫43.1K

$2.61 MX$44.85

-37.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 ₫8,997

$0.54 MX$9.30

-37.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.38 ₫167.4K

$26.94 MX$462

-76.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 ₫19.5K

$3.13 MX$53.7

-76.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 ₫17.1K

$2.51 MX$43.09

-74.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 ₫73.3K

$3.15 MX$54.1

-11.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 ₫23.6K

$1.27 MX$21.88

-29.13%

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

$35.1K ₫921.5M

$30.4K MX$521.3K

15.57%

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

$31.8K ₫834.8M

$23.6K MX$404.5K

34.95%

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

$74.9 ₫2.0M

$83.0 MX$1,425

-9.80%

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

$5.87 ₫154.1K

$22.71 MX$390

-74.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.54 ₫224.2K

$29.46 MX$506

-71.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.98 ₫550.7K

$51.0 MX$875

-58.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.65 ₫200.8K

$18.33 MX$315

-58.27%

Cinema Ticket

$3.14 ₫82.5K

$4.93 MX$84.5

-36.31%

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

$270 ₫7.1M

$197 MX$3,386

36.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₫301.4M

$5,280 MX$90.6K

117.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.38 ₫1.1M

$36.90 MX$633

12.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.28 ₫611.0K

$39.89 MX$685

-41.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 ₫2.2M

$80.0 MX$1,373

6.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.2 ₫2.0M

$89.5 MX$1,536

-15.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$360 ₫9.4M

$956 MX$16.4K

-62.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$251 ₫6.6M

$477 MX$8,189

-47.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$679 ₫17.8M

$1,646 MX$28.3K

-58.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$466 ₫12.2M

$1,225 MX$21.0K

-61.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,952 ₫103.7M

$3,918 MX$67.2K

0.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,563 ₫41.0M

$6,459 MX$110.9K

-75.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$667 MX$11.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.1

11.42

-20.32%

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

Last update for Hai Duong: June 7, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $360 in Hai Duong versus $956 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 $21.00 in Hai Duong versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $250 – making Hai Duong the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Hai Duong vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 79%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,067 per month in Hai Duong and $1,906 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Hai Duong, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $270 per month in Hai Duong and $197 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 31% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Hai Duong, where all-in costs run around $711, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Hai Duong it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Hai Duong – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Hai Duong. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.