Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hattiesburg, MS and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $1,965 in Hattiesburg, MS, rent and utilities included – about $9,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Hattiesburg, MS
🇺🇸 United States
$1,965
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hattiesburg, MS and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Hattiesburg, MS and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,965 in Hattiesburg, MS versus $1,204 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Hattiesburg, MS $1,965
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,880 in Hattiesburg, MS versus $2,102 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Hattiesburg, MS $2,880
  • Playa del Carmen $2,102

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,795 in Hattiesburg, MS versus $3,000 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Hattiesburg, MS $3,795
  • Playa del Carmen $3,000

Living in Hattiesburg, MS is roughly 63% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Hattiesburg, MS is 45% above, Playa del Carmen is 11% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hattiesburg, MS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.83 $15.83
$10.86 MX$201
45.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.3 $79.3
$44.21 MX$817
79.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.46 $10.46
$11.76 MX$217
-11.05%
Cappuccino
$5.57 $5.57
$3.68 MX$68.0
51.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$1.34 MX$24.79
88.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$0.82 MX$15.24
157.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.10 $5.10
$3.06 MX$56.6
66.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.07 $6.07
$4.94 MX$91.2
22.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hattiesburg, MS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 $1.24
$1.47 MX$27.17
-15.65%
White Bread (500g)
$3.96 $3.96
$2.22 MX$40.95
78.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.25 $6.25
$1.48 MX$27.32
322.30%
Eggs
$5.29 $5.29
$2.49 MX$45.99
112.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.36 $15.36
$7.52 MX$139
104.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.09 $10.09
$7.96 MX$147
26.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.79 $15.79
$12.57 MX$232
25.62%
Apples (1kg)
$5.27 $5.27
$2.78 MX$51.3
89.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 $1.63
$1.43 MX$26.37
13.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.25 $5.25
$2.62 MX$48.37
100.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$2.14 MX$39.49
157.94%
Potato (1kg)
$4.26 $4.26
$2.02 MX$37.38
110.89%
Onion (1kg)
$3.17 $3.17
$1.99 MX$36.74
59.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.16 $2.16
$1.14 MX$21.01
89.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.65 $2.65
$1.20 MX$22.18
120.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.89 $8.89
$4.26 MX$78.7
108.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.88 $15.88
$10.02 MX$185
58.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.54 MX$28.41
64.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.95 $3.95
$2.66 MX$49.17
48.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Hattiesburg, MS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.53 MX$9.73
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$27.51 MX$508
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.43 $3.43
$4.90 MX$90.6
-30.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.47 $1.47
$3.43 MX$63.5
-57.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.16 $35.16
$5.38 MX$99.4
553.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 $0.82
$1.45 MX$26.76
-43.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8K $33.8K
$21.2K MX$391.0K
59.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K $26.6K
$23.0K MX$425.3K
15.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hattiesburg, MS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 $145
$85.4 MX$1,577
69.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$72.3 $72.3
$23.46 MX$434
208.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.1 $73.1
$28.43 MX$525
157.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hattiesburg, MS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$62.2 MX$1,149
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.15 $10.15
$28.68 MX$530
-64.61%
Cinema Ticket
$12.43 $12.43
$5.10 MX$94.3
143.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hattiesburg, MS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,570 $1,570
$201 MX$3,715
680.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.2K $10.2K
$3,947 MX$72.9K
159.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hattiesburg, MS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 $58.1
$44.39 MX$820
30.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.90 $43.90
$41.35 MX$764
6.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.9 $86.9
$72.7 MX$1,344
19.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 $122
$89.6 MX$1,656
35.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hattiesburg, MS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,049 $1,049
$979 MX$18.1K
7.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$780 $780
$373 MX$6,887
109.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,586 $1,586
$1,681 MX$31.1K
-5.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,083 $1,083
$1,095 MX$20.2K
-1.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,590 $1,590
$3,949 MX$73.0K
-59.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,617 $1,617
$6,137 MX$113.4K
-73.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hattiesburg, MS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,976 $2,976
$738 MX$13.6K
303.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.66
11.45
-41.83%

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

Last update for Hattiesburg, MS: October 17, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Hattiesburg, MS
$780
Playa del Carmen
$373 52.2% $407
Groceries & Markets
Hattiesburg, MS
$439
Playa del Carmen
$258 41.1% $180
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hattiesburg, MS
$290
Playa del Carmen
$137 52.7% $153
Eating Out
Hattiesburg, MS
$281
Playa del Carmen
$200 28.7% $81
Clothing & Footwear
Hattiesburg, MS
$140
Playa del Carmen
$112 20.2% $28
Sport & Entertainment
Hattiesburg, MS
$25 *
Playa del Carmen
$72 191% $48
Getting Around
Hattiesburg, MS
$11 *
Playa del Carmen
$52 379% $41

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,049 in Hattiesburg, MS and $979 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hattiesburg, MS pays 304% 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: $79.0 in Hattiesburg, MS vs $44.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $439 vs $258 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Hattiesburg, MS
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
05:53 5:53 AM
05:53 5:53 AM
Same time as Hattiesburg, MS
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
45,989
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hattiesburg, MS Playa del Carmen 1,210 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Hattiesburg, MS
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Hattiesburg, MS vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Hattiesburg, MS?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. The 63% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Hattiesburg, MS or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 304% higher in Hattiesburg, MS, 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 Hattiesburg, MS and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,049 in Hattiesburg, MS versus $979 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Hattiesburg, MS and in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 70% higher in Hattiesburg, MS. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Hattiesburg, MS and in Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,965 per month in Hattiesburg, MS versus $1,204 in Playa del Carmen – a 63% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Hattiesburg, MS or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,965 in Hattiesburg, MS, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Hattiesburg, MS. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Hattiesburg, MS or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Hattiesburg, MS, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Hattiesburg, MS or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Hattiesburg, MS 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 63% less than in Hattiesburg, MS. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Hattiesburg, MS vs other spots: cost of living compared

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