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 $4,842 per month in Hamilton vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $9,251 per month in Hamilton vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $13.7K per month in Hamilton vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Hamilton costs about 286% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Hamilton sits 262% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$59.9 BMD 59.9

$11.99 MX$210

399.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$177 BMD 177

$41.78 MX$733

323.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.27 BMD 15.27

$10.75 MX$189

42.05%

Cappuccino

$6.40 BMD 6.40

$3.50 MX$61.3

82.86%

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

$3.50 BMD 3.50

$1.45 MX$25.41

141.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 BMD 2.98

$0.88 MX$15.52

238.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.17 BMD 10.17

$2.95 MX$51.7

244.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.41 BMD 8.41

$4.51 MX$79.1

86.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.34 BMD 4.34

$1.43 MX$25.12

203.50%

White Bread (500g)

$9.00 BMD 9.00

$1.84 MX$32.23

389.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.37 BMD 5.37

$1.57 MX$27.51

242.04%

Eggs

$7.57 BMD 7.57

$2.51 MX$44.06

201.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.68 BMD 11.68

$8.28 MX$145

41.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.47 BMD 24.47

$8.43 MX$148

190.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$31.87 BMD 31.87

$10.68 MX$187

198.41%

Apples (1kg)

$10.38 BMD 10.38

$2.61 MX$45.76

297.70%

Banana (1kg)

$6.27 BMD 6.27

$1.44 MX$25.22

335.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$12.59 BMD 12.59

$1.96 MX$34.41

542.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$11.30 BMD 11.30

$2.09 MX$36.74

440.67%

Potato (1kg)

$8.40 BMD 8.40

$1.85 MX$32.47

354.05%

Onion (1kg)

$4.98 BMD 4.98

$2.17 MX$38.02

129.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.83 BMD 5.83

$1.03 MX$18.09

466.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.20 BMD 3.20

$1.07 MX$18.84

199.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.49 BMD 17.49

$4.10 MX$72.0

326.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.59 BMD 24.59

$10.17 MX$178

141.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.26 BMD 5.26

$1.68 MX$29.38

213.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 BMD 4.63

$2.53 MX$44.31

83.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.80 BMD 4.80

$0.51 MX$8.93

841.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$70.1 BMD 70.1

$26.04 MX$457

169.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.09 BMD 6.09

$3.23 MX$56.7

88.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.43 BMD 3.43

$2.41 MX$42.19

42.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$54.2 BMD 54.2

$3.23 MX$56.6

1578.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.37 BMD 2.37

$1.32 MX$23.17

79.55%

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

$34.4K BMD 34.4K

$29.7K MX$520.9K

15.79%

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

$39.6K BMD 39.6K

$23.7K MX$415.0K

67.40%

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

$234 BMD 234

$82.0 MX$1,439

185.28%

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

$121 BMD 121

$22.95 MX$403

425.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$154 BMD 154

$30.11 MX$528

413.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$185 BMD 185

$52.0 MX$912

255.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.99 BMD 32.99

$18.53 MX$325

78.04%

Cinema Ticket

$13.72 BMD 13.72

$4.98 MX$87.3

175.50%

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

$1,339 BMD 1,339

$197 MX$3,463

578.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.6K BMD 24.6K

$5,336 MX$93.6K

360.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.5 BMD 78.5

$35.60 MX$624

120.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.1 BMD 61.1

$40.33 MX$707

51.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$135 BMD 135

$78.8 MX$1,381

71.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 BMD 130

$88.9 MX$1,560

45.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,377 BMD 3,377

$947 MX$16.6K

256.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 BMD 2,260

$474 MX$8,314

376.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,611 BMD 8,611

$1,644 MX$28.8K

423.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$7,542 BMD 7,542

$1,211 MX$21.2K

523.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.6K BMD 14.6K

$4,056 MX$71.1K

260.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,325 BMD 9,325

$6,470 MX$113.5K

44.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,684 BMD 6,684

$654 MX$11.5K

922.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.22

11.42

-36.78%

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

Last update for Hamilton: July 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,377 in Hamilton versus $947 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 922% 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 $177 in Hamilton versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $816 vs $249 – 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: $4,842 in Hamilton, $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 286% apart. Hamilton costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,263 per month in Hamilton and $1,884 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 $177 in Hamilton and $42.00 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 $4,842 in Hamilton and $1,256 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 $1,256, than in Hamilton at $4,842. 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 $1,256 in Playa del Carmen to $4,842 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.