😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Hamont-Achel versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,197 in Hamont-Achel versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,183 in Hamont-Achel versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Hamont-Achel is roughly 74% more expensive than 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
$17.21€14.83
$11.87MX$204
44.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.9€78.3
$42.90MX$736
111.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.14€10.46
$10.65MX$183
13.99%
Cappuccino
$3.48€3.00
$3.45MX$59.2
0.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13€2.70
$1.50MX$25.81
108.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33€2.01
$0.95MX$16.28
145.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.69€4.04
$3.03MX$51.9
54.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69€3.18
$4.61MX$79.1
-19.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamont-Achel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32€1.13
$1.38MX$23.61
-4.35%
White Bread(500g)
$2.80€2.42
$1.85MX$31.70
51.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.38€2.05
$1.61MX$27.65
47.83%
Eggs
$3.75€3.23
$2.59MX$44.51
44.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$26.07€22.46
$8.26MX$142
215.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.19€9.64
$8.37MX$144
33.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.81€18.79
$10.66MX$183
104.60%
Apples(1kg)
$3.38€2.91
$2.63MX$45.12
28.52%
Banana(1kg)
$2.50€2.15
$1.49MX$25.53
67.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.09€2.67
$1.92MX$32.94
60.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.19€2.75
$2.09MX$35.81
52.63%
Potato(1kg)
$3.04€2.62
$1.86MX$31.88
63.44%
Onion(1kg)
$2.21€1.91
$2.26MX$38.81
-2.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.76€1.52
$1.06MX$18.23
66.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.78
$1.09MX$18.67
-16.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.54€8.22
$4.15MX$71.2
129.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.42€8.11
$10.39MX$178
-9.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12€1.83
$1.72MX$29.59
23.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99€2.58
$2.61MX$44.85
14.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamont-Achel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.95€2.54
$0.54MX$9.30
446.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.2€49.27
$26.94MX$462
112.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.96€4.28
$3.13MX$53.7
58.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.34€2.01
$2.51MX$43.09
-6.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$40.42€34.82
$3.15MX$54.1
1183.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.93€1.66
$1.27MX$21.88
51.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.4K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
12.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.8K€24.8K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
22.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamont-Achel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$345€297
$83.0MX$1,425
315.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.68€24.71
$22.71MX$390
26.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.0€52.6
$29.46MX$506
107.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamont-Achel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.83€33.45
$51.0MX$875
-23.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66€14.35
$18.33MX$315
-9.11%
Cinema Ticket
$15.39€13.26
$4.93MX$84.5
212.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamont-Achel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$620€534
$197MX$3,386
214.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.5K€11.6K
$5,280MX$90.6K
155.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamont-Achel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.9€74.0
$36.90MX$633
132.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.36€40.81
$39.89MX$685
18.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€95.3
$80.0MX$1,373
38.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$167€144
$89.5MX$1,536
86.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamont-Achel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$888€765
$956MX$16.4K
-7.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$741€638
$477MX$8,189
55.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,359€1,171
$1,646MX$28.3K
-17.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,091€940
$1,225MX$21.0K
-10.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,972€3,422
$3,918MX$67.2K
1.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,428€2,953
$6,459MX$110.9K
-46.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamont-Achel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$667MX$11.4K
-
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $888 in Hamont-Achel and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $91.0 in Hamont-Achel vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $392 vs $250 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 74% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,316 in Hamont-Achel and $1,906 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: $888 in Hamont-Achel versus $956 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Hamont-Achel versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – a 74% 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 112% 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 Hamont-Achel or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,210 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 74% 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