Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hialeah, FL and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,801 in Hialeah, FL, rent and utilities included – about $19,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Hialeah, FL, United States
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Hialeah, FL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,801
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hialeah, FL 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 Hialeah, FL and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,801 in Hialeah, FL versus $1,204 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Hialeah, FL $2,801
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,425 in Hialeah, FL versus $2,082 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Hialeah, FL $4,425
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,049 in Hialeah, FL versus $2,959 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Hialeah, FL $6,049
  • Playa del Carmen $2,959

Living in Hialeah, FL is roughly 133% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Hialeah, FL is 106% above, Playa del Carmen is 12% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hialeah, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.22 $30.22
$10.92 MX$204
176.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.0 $94.0
$43.37 MX$808
116.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.16 $12.16
$11.78 MX$220
3.23%
Cappuccino
$5.50 $5.50
$3.81 MX$71.0
44.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$1.28 MX$23.90
98.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 $1.85
$0.78 MX$14.59
137.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.65 $7.65
$3.17 MX$59.0
141.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.84 $9.84
$4.93 MX$92.0
99.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hialeah, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.41 MX$26.22
-24.82%
White Bread (500g)
$4.57 $4.57
$2.22 MX$41.33
105.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.19 $3.19
$1.42 MX$26.42
124.65%
Eggs
$4.73 $4.73
$2.52 MX$47.03
87.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.22 $13.22
$7.26 MX$135
82.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.44 $14.44
$7.70 MX$143
87.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.63 $21.63
$12.69 MX$237
70.45%
Apples (1kg)
$5.20 $5.20
$2.78 MX$51.9
87.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.37 MX$25.50
24.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.18 $4.18
$2.55 MX$47.55
63.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.63 $5.63
$2.12 MX$39.58
165.57%
Potato (1kg)
$3.35 $3.35
$1.94 MX$36.13
72.68%
Onion (1kg)
$4.31 $4.31
$1.89 MX$35.16
128.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.97 $2.97
$1.15 MX$21.37
158.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.56 $2.56
$1.18 MX$21.98
116.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.07 $9.07
$4.30 MX$80.1
110.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.29 $15.29
$9.95 MX$185
53.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.58 MX$29.52
12.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 $3.08
$2.67 MX$49.79
15.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Hialeah, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.55 MX$10.31
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$171 $171
$26.62 MX$496
543.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.98 $2.98
$4.97 MX$92.6
-40.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.00 $2.00
$3.33 MX$62.1
-39.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.29 $24.29
$5.36 MX$99.8
353.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.44 MX$26.92
-28.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9K $34.9K
$20.7K MX$385.2K
68.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K $26.6K
$23.5K MX$437.4K
13.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hialeah, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$181 $181
$84.8 MX$1,581
113.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$64.3 $64.3
$23.41 MX$436
174.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.3 $76.3
$28.66 MX$534
166.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hialeah, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.10 $20.10
$57.1 MX$1,063
-64.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.91 MX$539
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.91 $9.91
$5.14 MX$95.8
92.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hialeah, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,479 $1,479
$207 MX$3,851
615.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.6K $39.6K
$3,927 MX$73.2K
907.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hialeah, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.5 $51.5
$43.35 MX$808
18.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.91 $40.91
$41.44 MX$772
-1.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 $101
$74.2 MX$1,383
35.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 $108
$89.3 MX$1,664
21.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hialeah, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,730 $1,730
$980 MX$18.3K
76.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,248 $1,248
$381 MX$7,099
227.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,202 $3,202
$1,708 MX$31.8K
87.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,531 $2,531
$1,075 MX$20.0K
135.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,943 MX$73.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,158 MX$114.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hialeah, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,252 $3,252
$735 MX$13.7K
342.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.56
11.45
-42.71%

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

Last update for Hialeah, FL: October 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Hialeah, FL
$1.2K
Playa del Carmen
$381 69.5% $867
Groceries & Markets
Hialeah, FL
$453
Playa del Carmen
$255 43.7% $198
Eating Out
Hialeah, FL
$420
Playa del Carmen
$202 51.8% $217
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hialeah, FL
$321
Playa del Carmen
$137 57.4% $185
Getting Around
Hialeah, FL
$184 *
Playa del Carmen
$50 72.6% $134
Clothing & Footwear
Hialeah, FL
$135
Playa del Carmen
$112 17.5% $24
Sport & Entertainment
Hialeah, FL
$40
Playa del Carmen
$67 68.7% $27

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 $1,730 in Hialeah, FL and $980 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hialeah, FL pays about 4.4 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $94 in Hialeah, FL vs $43 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $453 vs $255 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Hialeah, FL
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
21:03 9:03 PM
20:03 8:03 PM
1 h behind Hialeah, FL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
224,669
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hialeah, FL Playa del Carmen 910 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Hialeah, FL
  • 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
Hialeah, FL vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Hialeah, FL?
Playa del Carmen is about 57% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and transport. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Hialeah, FL or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay in Hialeah, FL is about 4.4 times higher, 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 Hialeah, FL and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,730 in Hialeah, FL versus $980 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 84% less than in Hialeah, FL. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,479 in Hialeah, FL versus $207 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Hialeah, FL or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,801 in Hialeah, FL, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Hialeah, FL. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Hialeah, FL or in 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Hialeah, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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