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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,857 per month in Hamilton vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $9,118 per month in Hamilton vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $13.4K per month in Hamilton vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Hamilton costs about 272% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Hamilton sits 252% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$50.1 BMD 50.1

$11.96 MX$202

318.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$151 BMD 151

$47.38 MX$801

218.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$16.91 BMD 16.91

$11.75 MX$199

43.91%

Cappuccino

$6.22 BMD 6.22

$4.12 MX$69.7

50.97%

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

$3.11 BMD 3.11

$1.40 MX$23.66

122.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 BMD 3.08

$0.91 MX$15.43

238.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.47 BMD 7.47

$3.21 MX$54.2

132.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.09 BMD 9.09

$7.07 MX$120

28.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.54 BMD 4.54

$1.68 MX$28.35

170.24%

White Bread (500g)

$8.49 BMD 8.49

$2.15 MX$36.36

294.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.45 BMD 5.45

$1.77 MX$30.00

207.91%

Eggs

$7.60 BMD 7.60

$2.82 MX$47.60

169.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.75 BMD 18.75

$9.20 MX$156

103.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$23.05 BMD 23.05

$9.23 MX$156

149.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.43 BMD 27.43

$12.64 MX$214

117.01%

Apples (1kg)

$12.87 BMD 12.87

$2.95 MX$49.90

336.27%

Banana (1kg)

$6.57 BMD 6.57

$1.58 MX$26.70

315.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.06 BMD 7.06

$2.22 MX$37.58

218.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.96 BMD 3.96

$2.36 MX$39.96

67.80%

Potato (1kg)

$6.94 BMD 6.94

$1.99 MX$33.70

248.74%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 BMD 3.09

$1.98 MX$33.47

56.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$6.46 BMD 6.46

$1.24 MX$20.97

420.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.58 BMD 3.58

$1.21 MX$20.48

195.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.93 BMD 17.93

$4.60 MX$77.8

289.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.64 BMD 24.64

$10.52 MX$178

134.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.05 BMD 5.05

$1.69 MX$28.60

198.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.42 BMD 4.42

$2.77 MX$46.91

59.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.96 BMD 4.96

$0.60 MX$10.19

726.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$70.2 BMD 70.2

$29.70 MX$502

136.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.47 BMD 6.47

$5.24 MX$88.5

23.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.96 BMD 2.96

$3.65 MX$61.7

-18.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$71.4 BMD 71.4

$5.78 MX$97.8

1134.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.42 BMD 2.42

$1.54 MX$26.01

57.14%

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

$37.2K BMD 37.2K

$22.8K MX$385.5K

62.98%

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

$42.4K BMD 42.4K

$25.8K MX$436.5K

64.31%

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

$252 BMD 252

$90.7 MX$1,533

178.37%

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

$150 BMD 150

$25.19 MX$426

494.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$164 BMD 164

$31.75 MX$537

416.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$185 BMD 185

$68.8 MX$1,163

169.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.90 BMD 14.90

$29.37 MX$497

-49.27%

Cinema Ticket

$13.59 BMD 13.59

$4.86 MX$82.2

179.63%

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

$1,299 BMD 1,299

$226 MX$3,816

475.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.0K BMD 25.0K

$4,194 MX$70.9K

497.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$90.6 BMD 90.6

$47.38 MX$801

91.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.7 BMD 69.7

$43.45 MX$735

60.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$143 BMD 143

$80.2 MX$1,356

78.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 BMD 130

$91.4 MX$1,545

42.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,714 BMD 3,714

$1,086 MX$18.4K

242.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,451 BMD 2,451

$409 MX$6,910

499.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,589 BMD 8,589

$1,972 MX$33.3K

335.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$7,834 BMD 7,834

$1,281 MX$21.7K

511.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$15.0K BMD 15.0K

$4,046 MX$68.4K

271.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,099 BMD 9,099

$6,704 MX$113.4K

35.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,749 BMD 6,749

$773 MX$13.1K

772.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.63

11.45

-24.63%

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

Last update for Hamilton: September 7, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,714 in Hamilton versus $1,086 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.

Salaries run about 773% higher in Hamilton, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $151 in Hamilton versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $767 vs $278 – making Playa del Carmen 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $4,857 in Hamilton, $1,305 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 272% apart. Hamilton costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,286 per month in Hamilton and $1,958 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 Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $151 in Hamilton and $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,857 in Hamilton and $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,305, than in Hamilton at $4,857. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hamilton it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,305 in Playa del Carmen to $4,857 in Hamilton. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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