😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,184 in Hamont-Achel versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,196 in Hamont-Achel versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,208 in Hamont-Achel versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Hamont-Achel is roughly 73% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Hamont-Achel is 64% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamont-Achel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.50€15.16
$11.72MX$203
49.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.7€81.1
$41.89MX$725
123.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.30€10.66
$10.51MX$182
17.03%
Cappuccino
$3.41€2.95
$3.59MX$62.0
-5.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25€2.82
$1.51MX$26.10
115.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35€2.03
$0.92MX$15.83
155.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.52€3.91
$2.96MX$51.2
52.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69€3.20
$4.41MX$76.3
-16.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamont-Achel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$1.40MX$24.16
-7.86%
White Bread(500g)
$2.82€2.44
$1.88MX$32.60
50.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.40€2.08
$1.56MX$26.97
53.85%
Eggs
$3.90€3.37
$2.61MX$45.14
49.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$25.61€22.18
$8.32MX$144
207.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.19€9.69
$8.35MX$145
34.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.37€18.50
$10.86MX$188
96.78%
Apples(1kg)
$3.27€2.83
$2.71MX$46.93
20.66%
Banana(1kg)
$2.41€2.09
$1.51MX$26.04
59.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.96€2.56
$1.87MX$32.41
58.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.17€2.75
$2.19MX$37.89
44.75%
Potato(1kg)
$2.96€2.56
$1.86MX$32.14
59.14%
Onion(1kg)
$2.14€1.86
$2.23MX$38.59
-4.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.81€1.57
$1.07MX$18.48
69.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88€0.76
$1.09MX$18.79
-19.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.72€8.42
$4.19MX$72.4
131.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.42€8.16
$10.43MX$180
-9.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.08€1.80
$1.66MX$28.68
25.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15€2.73
$2.61MX$45.19
20.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamont-Achel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.93€2.54
$0.54MX$9.37
442.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$56.4€48.86
$26.16MX$453
115.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.83€4.19
$3.08MX$53.3
56.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.34€2.02
$2.40MX$41.61
-2.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$40.68€35.23
$3.13MX$54.1
1199.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.85€1.61
$1.31MX$22.69
41.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K€29.8K
$29.8KMX$515.7K
15.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.1K€25.2K
$23.3KMX$403.5K
24.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamont-Achel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$349€302
$81.3MX$1,406
329.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.92€24.18
$22.56MX$390
23.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.5€52.4
$30.05MX$520
101.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamont-Achel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.75€33.55
$52.9MX$915
-26.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.02€14.74
$18.39MX$318
-7.45%
Cinema Ticket
$15.34€13.29
$4.92MX$85.1
211.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamont-Achel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$625€541
$201MX$3,474
211.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.5K€11.7K
$5,175MX$89.5K
160.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamont-Achel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.6
$35.92MX$622
139.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.88€40.60
$40.13MX$694
16.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112€96.9
$79.7MX$1,379
40.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$172€149
$86.5MX$1,496
98.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamont-Achel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$911€789
$978MX$16.9K
-6.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$748€648
$470MX$8,140
59.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,341€1,161
$1,651MX$28.6K
-18.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,082€937
$1,203MX$20.8K
-10.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,045€3,503
$3,953MX$68.4K
2.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,352€2,903
$6,607MX$114.3K
-49.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamont-Achel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$677MX$11.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.65
11.42
-68.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hamont-Achel: July 28, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $911 in Hamont-Achel and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $94.0 in Hamont-Achel vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $388 vs $252 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
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
Hamont-Achel vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Hamont-Achel?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 73% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,276 in Hamont-Achel and $1,890 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Hamont-Achel and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $911 in Hamont-Achel versus $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Hamont-Achel and in Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,184 per month in Hamont-Achel versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – a 73% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 116% less than in Hamont-Achel. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Hamont-Achel or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,184 in Hamont-Achel, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Hamont-Achel. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Hamont-Achel or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Hamont-Achel, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Hamont-Achel or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Hamont-Achel and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Hamont-Achel. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Hamont-Achel vs other spots: cost of living compared