Cost of Living Comparison Between Hampton, VA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Hampton, VA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,185 in Hampton, VA versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,918 in Hampton, VA versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,651 in Hampton, VA versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Hampton, VA is roughly 152% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Hampton, VA is 133% above, Playa del Carmen is 7% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.27 $20.27

$11.60 MX$199

74.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.8 $73.8

$47.11 MX$809

56.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.84 $11.84

$11.88 MX$204

-0.34%

Cappuccino

$4.39 $4.39

$3.98 MX$68.2

10.30%

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

$3.33 $3.33

$1.43 MX$24.49

132.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$0.82 MX$14.16

180.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.35 $6.35

$3.19 MX$54.7

99.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.12 $9.12

$6.79 MX$117

34.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.68 MX$28.76

-7.74%

White Bread (500g)

$3.54 $3.54

$2.20 MX$37.71

60.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$1.71 MX$29.32

260.23%

Eggs

$5.67 $5.67

$2.74 MX$47.05

106.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.15 $8.15

$9.58 MX$164

-14.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$19.83 $19.83

$9.01 MX$155

120.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.16 $24.16

$12.81 MX$220

88.60%

Apples (1kg)

$8.05 $8.05

$2.89 MX$49.58

178.55%

Banana (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$1.50 MX$25.70

120.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$9.84 $9.84

$2.15 MX$36.87

357.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.64 $9.64

$2.26 MX$38.79

326.55%

Potato (1kg)

$5.99 $5.99

$1.98 MX$34.00

202.53%

Onion (1kg)

$6.94 $6.94

$1.99 MX$34.15

248.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.90 $2.90

$1.23 MX$21.18

135.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$5.07 $5.07

$1.20 MX$20.54

322.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.42 $10.42

$4.55 MX$78.1

129.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.14 $18.14

$10.37 MX$178

74.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.62 MX$27.79

5.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.88 MX$49.44

31.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.65 $3.65

$0.60 MX$10.30

508.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.7 $54.7

$28.80 MX$494

89.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.01 $5.01

$5.39 MX$92.5

-7.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$3.73 MX$64.0

-51.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.85 $19.85

$5.77 MX$99.0

244.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.54 MX$26.37

-42.86%

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

$36.5K $36.5K

$22.5K MX$387.0K

61.98%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$26.1K MX$447.3K

-4.49%

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

$215 $215

$91.4 MX$1,569

135.18%

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

$53.0 $53.0

$25.20 MX$433

110.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$79.4 $79.4

$31.24 MX$536

154.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$113 $113

$67.2 MX$1,154

68.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.85 $34.85

$29.11 MX$500

19.72%

Cinema Ticket

$15.77 $15.77

$4.86 MX$83.5

224.49%

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

$1,291 $1,291

$224 MX$3,839

477.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K $14.9K

$4,229 MX$72.6K

252.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.42 $47.42

$47.10 MX$808

0.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.15 $40.15

$44.29 MX$760

-9.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$133 $133

$80.1 MX$1,375

65.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$134 $134

$92.7 MX$1,591

44.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,668 $1,668

$1,063 MX$18.2K

57.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,547 $1,547

$390 MX$6,698

296.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,905 $2,905

$2,149 MX$36.9K

35.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,953 $2,953

$1,272 MX$21.8K

132.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$68.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,287 $2,287

$6,502 MX$111.6K

-64.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,744 $3,744

$758 MX$13.0K

393.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.08

11.45

-46.90%

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

Last update for Hampton, VA: September 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,668 in Hampton, VA and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hampton, VA pays 394% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $74.0 in Hampton, VA vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $599 vs $276 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

Hampton, VA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 152% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 394% higher in Hampton, VA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,668 in Hampton, VA versus $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,185 per month in Hampton, VA versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen – a 152% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 90% less than in Hampton, VA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,185 in Hampton, VA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Hampton, VA. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Hampton, VA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 152% less than in Hampton, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.