🙂A single person spends $506 per month in Hatton vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $820 per month in Hatton vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,135 per month in Hatton vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Hatton is about 60% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Hatton and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Hatton63% lower, Playa del Carmen7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hatton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.31LKR 1,424
$11.60MX$200
-62.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.41LKR 8,731
$47.11MX$811
-43.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.63LKR 2,523
$11.88MX$205
-35.77%
Cappuccino
$2.46LKR 813
$3.98MX$68.5
-38.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69LKR 229
$1.43MX$24.57
-51.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27LKR 89.6
$0.82MX$14.20
-67.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.20LKR 727
$3.19MX$54.9
-31.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10LKR 1,024
$6.79MX$117
-54.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hatton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63LKR 537
$1.68MX$28.85
-2.98%
White Bread(500g)
$0.54LKR 178
$2.20MX$37.83
-75.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.75LKR 249
$1.71MX$29.41
-56.14%
Eggs
$1.60LKR 530
$2.74MX$47.20
-41.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.42LKR 4,439
$9.58MX$165
40.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.03LKR 1,662
$9.01MX$155
-44.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.19LKR 2,379
$12.81MX$221
-43.87%
Apples(1kg)
$6.67LKR 2,205
$2.89MX$49.74
130.80%
Banana(1kg)
$0.84LKR 276
$1.50MX$25.78
-44.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.18LKR 1,381
$2.15MX$36.98
94.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.30LKR 429
$2.26MX$38.91
-42.48%
Potato(1kg)
$1.05LKR 348
$1.98MX$34.10
-46.97%
Onion(1kg)
$0.74LKR 246
$1.99MX$34.26
-62.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.94LKR 310
$1.23MX$21.25
-23.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45LKR 150
$1.20MX$20.60
-62.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.32LKR 3,411
$4.55MX$78.3
126.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.57LKR 4,487
$10.37MX$179
30.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99LKR 660
$1.62MX$27.88
22.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87LKR 949
$2.88MX$49.60
-0.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Hatton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.60MX$10.34
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.80MX$496
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.42LKR 137
$5.39MX$92.8
-92.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38LKR 127
$3.73MX$64.2
-89.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.88LKR 292
$5.77MX$99.3
-84.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29LKR 425
$1.54MX$26.45
-16.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1KLKR 9.9M
$22.5KMX$388.3K
33.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.9KLKR 13.8M
$26.1KMX$448.7K
60.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hatton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$56.0LKR 18.5K
$91.4MX$1,573
-38.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.11LKR 1,358
$25.20MX$434
-83.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.21LKR 7,012
$31.24MX$538
-32.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hatton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$67.2MX$1,157
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11MX$501
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.50LKR 1,489
$4.86MX$83.7
-7.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hatton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$37.59LKR 12.4K
$224MX$3,851
-83.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,227LKR 405.7K
$4,229MX$72.8K
-70.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hatton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.90LKR 6,579
$47.10MX$811
-57.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.94LKR 5,601
$44.29MX$763
-61.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.3LKR 25.9K
$80.1MX$1,379
-2.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.07LKR 14.2K
$92.7MX$1,596
-53.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hatton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,063MX$18.3K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$390MX$6,719
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,149MX$37.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,272MX$21.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,001MX$68.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,502MX$112.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hatton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$758MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.69
11.45
10.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hatton: September 15, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Hatton versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $276 – making Hatton the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Hatton vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Hatton?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 150%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $758 per month in Hatton and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Hatton and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $506 in Hatton and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $37.59 per month in Hatton and $224 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Hatton or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Hatton, where all-in costs run around $506, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Hatton it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Hatton or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Hatton – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Hatton or Playa del Carmen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Hatton. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.