😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,835 in Hanko versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,712 in Hanko versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,590 in Hanko versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Hanko is roughly 41% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Hanko is 37% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hanko
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.53€13.47
$11.73MX$205
32.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.5€59.5
$41.62MX$727
64.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.81€11.98
$10.64MX$186
29.79%
Cappuccino
$4.15€3.60
$3.52MX$61.4
17.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89€1.64
$1.51MX$26.37
25.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.36
$0.97MX$17.00
61.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.98€6.05
$2.95MX$51.5
136.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92€6.87
$4.45MX$77.8
77.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hanko
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26€1.09
$1.38MX$24.16
-8.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.53
$1.89MX$33.03
-6.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25€1.95
$1.64MX$28.59
37.20%
Eggs
$3.45€2.99
$2.51MX$43.76
37.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.54€3.07
$8.34MX$146
-57.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.54€3.94
$8.34MX$146
-45.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.71€4.95
$10.73MX$187
-46.78%
Apples(1kg)
$1.12€0.97
$2.60MX$45.47
-56.92%
Banana(1kg)
$0.90€0.78
$1.46MX$25.45
-38.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.51€2.18
$1.90MX$33.19
32.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.32€3.75
$2.08MX$36.26
107.69%
Potato(1kg)
$1.30€1.13
$1.78MX$31.01
-26.97%
Onion(1kg)
$1.92€1.67
$2.19MX$38.16
-12.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.77€1.54
$1.04MX$18.16
70.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.53
$1.08MX$18.80
62.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.90€11.19
$4.08MX$71.3
216.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.75€14.53
$10.32MX$180
62.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.27€2.84
$1.71MX$29.90
91.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67€3.19
$2.58MX$44.97
42.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Hanko
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.57€3.09
$0.51MX$8.90
600.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.7€58.7
$26.46MX$462
155.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.12€7.91
$3.26MX$57.0
179.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.22€1.06
$2.49MX$43.50
-51.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$96.1€83.4
$3.25MX$56.7
2856.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.18€1.89
$1.31MX$22.83
66.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K€30.6K
$30.3KMX$528.8K
16.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.9K€33.7K
$23.4KMX$409.2K
65.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hanko
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$237€205
$82.9MX$1,447
185.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.27€26.26
$22.22MX$388
36.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.53€20.41
$29.34MX$512
-19.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hanko
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.73€37.94
$51.6MX$902
-15.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.39€21.16
$18.32MX$320
33.13%
Cinema Ticket
$17.14€14.87
$5.07MX$88.5
238.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hanko
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$357€310
$201MX$3,507
77.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,916€6,867
$5,212MX$91.0K
51.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hanko
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.8€77.0
$36.92MX$645
140.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98€38.16
$39.79MX$695
10.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.7€80.4
$78.5MX$1,370
18.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$161€139
$87.1MX$1,521
84.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hanko
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$757€657
$973MX$17.0K
-22.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$639€555
$468MX$8,168
36.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,307€1,134
$1,641MX$28.7K
-20.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,032€895
$1,221MX$21.3K
-15.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,124€3,577
$3,946MX$68.9K
4.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,242€1,945
$6,498MX$113.5K
-65.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hanko
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,074€3,534
$664MX$11.6K
513.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.93
11.42
-65.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hanko: June 1, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $757 in Hanko and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hanko pays 514% 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: $69.0 in Hanko vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $239 vs $249, with Hanko cheaper for home cooking.
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
Hanko vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Hanko?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Hanko or Playa del Carmen?
Hanko pays 514% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Hanko and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $757 in Hanko versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $357 in Hanko versus $201 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Hanko and Playa del Carmen?
Shoppers in Hanko pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Hanko or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,835 in Hanko, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Hanko. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Hanko or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Hanko, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Hanko or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Hanko 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 41% less than in Hanko. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.