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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,572 per month in Hamilton, MT vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,430 per month in Hamilton, MT vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,288 per month in Hamilton, MT vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Hamilton, MT costs about 104% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Hamilton, MT sits 92% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below โ€“ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Hamilton, MT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.21 $19.21
$11.67 MX$202
64.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.6 $75.6
$41.88 MX$726
80.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.79 $10.79
$10.40 MX$180
3.75%
Cappuccino
$5.11 $5.11
$3.61 MX$62.6
41.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$1.47 MX$25.45
68.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$0.91 MX$15.80
115.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.14 $6.14
$3.03 MX$52.6
102.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.94 $6.94
$4.47 MX$77.4
55.26%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Hamilton, MT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.38 MX$23.83
-26.81%
White Bread (500g)
$3.48 $3.48
$1.84 MX$31.93
89.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$1.61 MX$27.82
173.91%
Eggs
$4.23 $4.23
$2.57 MX$44.52
64.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.35 $12.35
$8.49 MX$147
45.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.70 $11.70
$8.49 MX$147
37.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.27 $15.27
$10.99 MX$190
38.94%
Apples (1kg)
$6.11 $6.11
$2.73 MX$47.25
123.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.33 $1.33
$1.50 MX$25.92
-11.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.30 $4.30
$1.96 MX$33.93
119.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.67 $4.67
$2.12 MX$36.70
120.28%
Potato (1kg)
$2.90 $2.90
$1.86 MX$32.30
55.91%
Onion (1kg)
$2.77 $2.77
$2.17 MX$37.67
27.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.08 $2.08
$1.07 MX$18.59
94.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$1.05 MX$18.18
110.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.56 $9.56
$4.19 MX$72.6
128.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.15 $15.15
$10.28 MX$178
47.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 $1.86
$1.67 MX$28.87
11.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28 $3.28
$2.49 MX$43.12
31.73%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Hamilton, MT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.06 $2.06
$0.54 MX$9.37
281.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.27 MX$455
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.43 $3.43
$3.10 MX$53.8
10.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 $1.60
$2.46 MX$42.66
-34.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.46 $29.46
$3.24 MX$56.1
809.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.26 MX$21.83
-34.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K $29.7K
$30.2K MX$522.8K
-1.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$23.4K MX$406.3K
10.29%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamilton, MT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$201 $201
$84.0 MX$1,456
139.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.9 $51.9
$22.21 MX$385
133.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$77.2 $77.2
$29.65 MX$514
160.30%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Hamilton, MT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.46 $42.46
$52.6 MX$912
-19.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.34 MX$318
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.37 $13.37
$4.95 MX$85.7
170.10%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Hamilton, MT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,308 $1,308
$198 MX$3,438
559.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.7K $23.7K
$5,322 MX$92.2K
345.67%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Hamilton, MT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.4 $51.4
$35.95 MX$623
42.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.12 $40.12
$40.06 MX$694
0.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.9 $85.9
$78.8 MX$1,365
9.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 $113
$86.5 MX$1,499
30.69%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Hamilton, MT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$915 $915
$977 MX$16.9K
-6.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,371 $1,371
$471 MX$8,158
191.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,981 $1,981
$1,595 MX$27.6K
24.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,526 $1,526
$1,215 MX$21.1K
25.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,242 $2,242
$4,032 MX$69.9K
-44.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,359 $2,359
$6,579 MX$114.0K
-64.15%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Hamilton, MT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,603 $3,603
$714 MX$12.4K
404.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
11.42
-42.99%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Hamilton, MT: April 21, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $915 in Hamilton, MT versus $977 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 405% higher in Hamilton, MT, 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 $76 in Hamilton, MT versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $252 โ€“ 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, MT vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Hamilton, MT and Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,572 in Hamilton, MT, $1,261 in Playa del Carmen โ€“ roughly 104% apart. Hamilton, MT costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Hamilton, MT compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,858 per month in Hamilton, MT and $1,891 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ€“ not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Hamilton, MT and Playa del Carmen?
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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Hamilton, MT or Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,572 in Hamilton, MT and $1,261 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category โ€“ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Hamilton, MT and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $1,308 per month in Hamilton, MT and $198 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Hamilton, MT at $2,572. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hamilton, MT it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Hamilton, MT and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,261 in Playa del Carmen to $2,572 in Hamilton, MT. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Hamilton, MT or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ€“ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Hamilton, MT and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hamilton, MT makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Hamilton, MT vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities