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 $4,831 per month in Hamilton vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $9,260 per month in Hamilton vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $13.7K per month in Hamilton vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Hamilton costs about 273% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Hamilton sits 261% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$60.6 BMD 60.6

$11.73 MX$203

416.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$177 BMD 177

$41.62 MX$720

325.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.87 BMD 14.87

$10.64 MX$184

39.76%

Cappuccino

$6.46 BMD 6.46

$3.52 MX$60.9

83.52%

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

$3.37 BMD 3.37

$1.51 MX$26.12

123.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 BMD 2.90

$0.97 MX$16.84

198.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.16 BMD 10.16

$2.95 MX$51.0

244.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.44 BMD 8.44

$4.45 MX$77.0

89.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.38 BMD 4.38

$1.38 MX$23.93

217.39%

White Bread (500g)

$8.71 BMD 8.71

$1.89 MX$32.72

360.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.59 BMD 5.59

$1.64 MX$28.32

240.85%

Eggs

$7.75 BMD 7.75

$2.51 MX$43.34

208.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.49 BMD 11.49

$8.34 MX$144

37.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.12 BMD 24.12

$8.34 MX$144

189.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$31.75 BMD 31.75

$10.73 MX$186

195.90%

Apples (1kg)

$10.16 BMD 10.16

$2.60 MX$45.04

290.77%

Banana (1kg)

$6.18 BMD 6.18

$1.46 MX$25.20

323.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$12.86 BMD 12.86

$1.90 MX$32.87

576.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$11.27 BMD 11.27

$2.08 MX$35.91

441.83%

Potato (1kg)

$8.15 BMD 8.15

$1.78 MX$30.71

357.87%

Onion (1kg)

$4.96 BMD 4.96

$2.19 MX$37.80

126.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$6.06 BMD 6.06

$1.04 MX$17.99

482.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.21 BMD 3.21

$1.08 MX$18.62

197.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.58 BMD 17.58

$4.08 MX$70.6

330.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.56 BMD 24.56

$10.32 MX$178

137.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.47 BMD 5.47

$1.71 MX$29.61

219.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.43 BMD 4.43

$2.58 MX$44.54

71.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.81 BMD 4.81

$0.51 MX$8.81

843.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.1 BMD 68.1

$26.46 MX$458

157.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.40 BMD 6.40

$3.26 MX$56.4

96.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.44 BMD 3.44

$2.49 MX$43.09

38.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$54.8 BMD 54.8

$3.25 MX$56.2

1586.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.36 BMD 2.36

$1.31 MX$22.61

80.15%

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

$35.0K BMD 35.0K

$30.3K MX$523.7K

15.69%

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

$39.7K BMD 39.7K

$23.4K MX$405.3K

69.59%

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

$234 BMD 234

$82.9 MX$1,433

182.72%

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

$117 BMD 117

$22.22 MX$384

428.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$156 BMD 156

$29.34 MX$507

431.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$191 BMD 191

$51.6 MX$893

270.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.31 BMD 32.31

$18.32 MX$317

76.36%

Cinema Ticket

$13.73 BMD 13.73

$5.07 MX$87.6

170.81%

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

$1,338 BMD 1,338

$201 MX$3,473

566.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.5K BMD 24.5K

$5,212 MX$90.1K

370.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.8 BMD 78.8

$36.92 MX$639

113.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.9 BMD 60.9

$39.79 MX$688

53.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 BMD 138

$78.5 MX$1,357

75.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 BMD 126

$87.1 MX$1,506

44.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,342 BMD 3,342

$973 MX$16.8K

243.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,198 BMD 2,198

$468 MX$8,090

370.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,541 BMD 8,541

$1,641 MX$28.4K

420.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$7,359 BMD 7,359

$1,221 MX$21.1K

502.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$15.1K BMD 15.1K

$3,946 MX$68.3K

281.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,439 BMD 9,439

$6,498 MX$112.4K

45.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,759 BMD 6,759

$664 MX$11.5K

918.01%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,342 in Hamilton versus $973 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 918% 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: $813 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: $4,831 in Hamilton, $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 273% apart. Hamilton costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,247 per month in Hamilton and $1,945 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 $4,831 in Hamilton and $1,297 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 $1,297, than in Hamilton at $4,831. 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 $1,297 in Playa del Carmen to $4,831 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.