😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,257 in Hazelton versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,247 in Hazelton versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,237 in Hazelton versus $3,362 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Hazelton is roughly 73% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Hazelton is 64% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hazelton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.99CA$24.96
$11.96MX$203
50.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.4CA$93.5
$47.38MX$804
42.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.85CA$15.05
$11.75MX$199
-7.66%
Cappuccino
$3.72CA$5.16
$4.12MX$70.0
-9.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00CA$2.77
$1.40MX$23.74
42.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70CA$2.35
$0.91MX$15.48
86.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.32CA$7.37
$3.21MX$54.4
65.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.85CA$8.12
$7.07MX$120
-17.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hazelton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.07CA$2.86
$1.68MX$28.44
23.21%
White Bread(500g)
$2.60CA$3.61
$2.15MX$36.48
20.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.26CA$4.52
$1.77MX$30.10
84.18%
Eggs
$3.60CA$4.99
$2.82MX$47.76
27.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20CA$14.14
$9.20MX$156
10.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.60CA$16.08
$9.23MX$157
25.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.74CA$20.44
$12.64MX$214
16.61%
Apples(1kg)
$3.79CA$5.26
$2.95MX$50.1
28.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37CA$1.89
$1.58MX$26.79
-13.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.68CA$5.11
$2.22MX$37.70
65.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.79CA$5.26
$2.36MX$40.09
60.59%
Potato(1kg)
$2.52CA$3.50
$1.99MX$33.81
26.63%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18CA$3.02
$1.98MX$33.58
10.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.54CA$3.52
$1.24MX$21.04
104.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.61CA$2.23
$1.21MX$20.55
33.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.64CA$20.30
$4.60MX$78.1
218.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.88CA$17.86
$10.52MX$178
22.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.73CA$3.78
$1.69MX$28.70
61.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05CA$4.23
$2.77MX$47.06
10.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Hazelton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40CA$3.33
$0.60MX$10.22
300.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$63.9CA$88.6
$29.70MX$504
115.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.93CA$4.06
$5.24MX$88.8
-44.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.46CA$2.03
$3.65MX$61.9
-60.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.84CA$33.07
$5.78MX$98.1
312.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17CA$1.62
$1.54MX$26.09
-24.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0KCA$40.2K
$22.8KMX$386.8K
26.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6KCA$27.2K
$25.8KMX$437.9K
-23.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hazelton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$137CA$189
$90.7MX$1,538
50.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.00CA$54.1
$25.19MX$427
54.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.1CA$77.8
$31.75MX$539
76.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hazelton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.15CA$58.5
$68.8MX$1,167
-38.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.61CA$25.81
$29.37MX$498
-36.64%
Cinema Ticket
$11.20CA$15.53
$4.86MX$82.5
130.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hazelton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$780CA$1,082
$226MX$3,828
245.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.4KCA$18.6K
$4,194MX$71.1K
220.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hazelton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.6CA$74.3
$47.38MX$804
13.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.39CA$53.3
$43.45MX$737
-11.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.3CA$118
$80.2MX$1,361
6.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101CA$140
$91.4MX$1,550
10.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hazelton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,278CA$1,773
$1,086MX$18.4K
17.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,150CA$1,594
$409MX$6,933
181.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034CA$2,821
$1,972MX$33.5K
3.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,773CA$2,459
$1,281MX$21.7K
38.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,329CA$6,004
$4,046MX$68.6K
6.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,655CA$5,069
$6,704MX$113.7K
-45.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hazelton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,165CA$3,003
$773MX$13.1K
179.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.68
11.45
-59.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hazelton: September 6, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,278 in Hazelton and $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hazelton pays 180% 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: $67.0 in Hazelton vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $355 vs $278 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
Hazelton vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Hazelton and in Playa del Carmen?
Hazelton and Playa del Carmen differ by about 73% in total monthly costs ($2,257 vs $1,305 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Hazelton or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 180% higher in Hazelton, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Hazelton and in Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,278 in Hazelton versus $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Hazelton and in Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 115% less than in Hazelton. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Hazelton and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $780 in Hazelton versus $226 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,257 in Hazelton, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Hazelton. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Hazelton and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Hazelton or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Hazelton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.