πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,841 in Hialeah, FL versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $4,454 in Hialeah, FL versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,067 in Hialeah, FL versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
πLiving in Hialeah, FL is roughly 119% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Hialeah, FL is 112% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Hialeah, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.82$29.82
$11.73MX$203
154.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.5$89.5
$41.62MX$720
114.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.87$9.87
$10.64MX$184
-7.24%
Cappuccino
$6.15$6.15
$3.52MX$60.9
74.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88$2.88
$1.51MX$26.12
90.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93$1.93
$0.97MX$16.84
98.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.87$5.87
$2.95MX$51.0
98.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01$9.01
$4.45MX$77.0
102.47%
π Groceries & Markets
Hialeah, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20$1.20
$1.38MX$23.93
-13.04%
White Bread(500g)
$3.18$3.18
$1.89MX$32.72
68.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.34$5.34
$1.64MX$28.32
225.61%
Eggs
$4.74$4.74
$2.51MX$43.34
88.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19$13.19
$8.34MX$144
58.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.20$14.20
$8.34MX$144
70.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.42$20.42
$10.73MX$186
90.31%
Apples(1kg)
$4.70$4.70
$2.60MX$45.04
80.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68$1.68
$1.46MX$25.20
15.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.42$5.42
$1.90MX$32.87
185.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.26$4.26
$2.08MX$35.91
104.81%
Potato(1kg)
$3.76$3.76
$1.78MX$30.71
111.24%
Onion(1kg)
$3.27$3.27
$2.19MX$37.80
49.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.86$2.86
$1.04MX$17.99
175.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.55$2.55
$1.08MX$18.62
136.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.47$8.47
$4.08MX$70.6
107.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.21$15.21
$10.32MX$178
47.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76$1.76
$1.71MX$29.61
2.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54$1.54
$2.58MX$44.54
-40.31%
π Getting Around
Hialeah, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.31$2.31
$0.51MX$8.81
352.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$168$168
$26.46MX$458
533.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.99$3.99
$3.26MX$56.4
22.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.33$1.33
$2.49MX$43.09
-46.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$44.20$44.20
$3.25MX$56.2
1260.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94$0.94
$1.31MX$22.61
-28.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K$34.3K
$30.3KMX$523.7K
13.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6K$27.6K
$23.4KMX$405.3K
17.93%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hialeah, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$257$257
$82.9MX$1,433
210.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.5$60.5
$22.22MX$384
172.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.9$62.9
$29.34MX$507
114.35%
π Sport & Entertainment
Hialeah, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.40$20.40
$51.6MX$893
-60.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.81$14.81
$5.07MX$87.6
192.11%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Hialeah, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,097$1,097
$201MX$3,473
446.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$25.4K$25.4K
$5,212MX$90.1K
388.28%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Hialeah, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5$53.5
$36.92MX$639
44.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.48$33.48
$39.79MX$688
-15.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.7$93.7
$78.5MX$1,357
19.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114$114
$87.1MX$1,506
30.44%
π Accommodation & Living
Hialeah, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,843$1,843
$973MX$16.8K
89.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,229$1,229
$468MX$8,090
162.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,431$3,431
$1,641MX$28.4K
109.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,651$2,651
$1,221MX$21.1K
117.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,946MX$68.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,498MX$112.4K
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Hialeah, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,131$3,131
$664MX$11.5K
371.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.53
11.42
-42.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hialeah, FL: June 1, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,843 in Hialeah, FL and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Hialeah, FL pays 372% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $89.0 in Hialeah, FL vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $435 vs $249 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
Hialeah, FL vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Hialeah, FL?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 119% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Hialeah, FL or Playa del Carmen?
Hialeah, FL pays 372% more on average, 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: $1,843 in Hialeah, FL versus $973 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 533% less than in Hialeah, FL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,097 in Hialeah, FL versus $201 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 Hialeah, FL or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,841 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 Hialeah, FL or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Hialeah, FL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet β expenses run 119% less than in Hialeah, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Hialeah, FL vs other spots: cost of living compared