🙂A single person spends $517 per month in Hatton vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $847 per month in Hatton vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,177 per month in Hatton vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Hatton is about 59% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Hatton and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Hatton61% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hatton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.14LKR 1,389
$11.72MX$203
-64.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.22LKR 8,462
$41.89MX$725
-39.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.53LKR 2,863
$10.51MX$182
-18.84%
Cappuccino
$2.66LKR 892
$3.59MX$62.0
-25.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69LKR 231
$1.51MX$26.10
-54.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40LKR 135
$0.92MX$15.83
-56.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.40LKR 804
$2.96MX$51.2
-18.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26LKR 1,095
$4.41MX$76.3
-26.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hatton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79LKR 600
$1.40MX$24.16
27.86%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56LKR 187
$1.88MX$32.60
-70.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.81LKR 270
$1.56MX$26.97
-48.08%
Eggs
$2.19LKR 735
$2.61MX$45.14
-16.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.02LKR 4,706
$8.32MX$144
68.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.79LKR 1,606
$8.35MX$145
-42.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.95LKR 2,667
$10.86MX$188
-26.80%
Apples(1kg)
$7.28LKR 2,443
$2.71MX$46.93
168.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11LKR 372
$1.51MX$26.04
-26.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.71LKR 1,916
$1.87MX$32.41
205.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.21LKR 405
$2.19MX$37.89
-44.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15LKR 386
$1.86MX$32.14
-38.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.42LKR 477
$2.23MX$38.59
-36.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18LKR 397
$1.07MX$18.48
10.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57LKR 190
$1.09MX$18.79
-47.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.02LKR 3,362
$4.19MX$72.4
139.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.68LKR 4,255
$10.43MX$180
21.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99LKR 669
$1.66MX$28.68
19.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86LKR 960
$2.61MX$45.19
9.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Hatton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.54MX$9.37
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.16MX$453
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.39LKR 131
$3.08MX$53.3
-87.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33LKR 110
$2.40MX$41.61
-86.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.61LKR 206
$3.13MX$54.1
-80.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24LKR 416
$1.31MX$22.69
-5.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5KLKR 8.9M
$29.8KMX$515.7K
-11.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5KLKR 11.6M
$23.3KMX$403.5K
47.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hatton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$61.0LKR 20.5K
$81.3MX$1,406
-24.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.30LKR 1,442
$22.56MX$390
-80.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.23LKR 5,110
$30.05MX$520
-49.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hatton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$52.9MX$915
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39MX$318
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.42LKR 1,146
$4.92MX$85.1
-30.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hatton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$36.64LKR 12.3K
$201MX$3,474
-81.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$434LKR 145.6K
$5,175MX$89.5K
-91.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hatton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.99LKR 9,394
$35.92MX$622
-22.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.61LKR 6,580
$40.13MX$694
-51.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.2LKR 23.2K
$79.7MX$1,379
-13.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.58LKR 12.9K
$86.5MX$1,496
-55.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hatton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$978MX$16.9K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$470MX$8,140
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,651MX$28.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,203MX$20.8K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,953MX$68.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,607MX$114.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hatton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$677MX$11.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
16.45
11.42
44.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hatton: July 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Hatton versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $256 in Hatton vs $252 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 144%, 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 $776 per month in Hatton and $1,890 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 $517 in Hatton and $1,260 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 $36.64 per month in Hatton and $201 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 $517, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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.