😐A single person spends $2,930 per month in Hillsboro, OR vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,941 per month in Hillsboro, OR vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,953 per month in Hillsboro, OR vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Hillsboro, OR costs about 131% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Hillsboro, OR sits 114% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hillsboro, OR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.77$22.77
$11.60MX$200
96.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.9$58.9
$47.11MX$812
24.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.18$8.18
$11.88MX$205
-31.14%
Cappuccino
$4.80$4.80
$3.98MX$68.6
20.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71$2.71
$1.43MX$24.60
89.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09$2.09
$0.82MX$14.22
154.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.96$4.96
$3.19MX$55.0
55.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.98$5.98
$6.79MX$117
-11.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hillsboro, OR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.01$1.01
$1.68MX$28.89
-39.88%
White Bread(500g)
$3.65$3.65
$2.20MX$37.88
65.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.40$5.40
$1.71MX$29.45
215.79%
Eggs
$3.67$3.67
$2.74MX$47.26
33.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.92$9.92
$9.58MX$165
3.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.98$13.98
$9.01MX$155
55.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.59$19.59
$12.81MX$221
52.93%
Apples(1kg)
$3.69$3.69
$2.89MX$49.81
27.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69$1.69
$1.50MX$25.81
12.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.95$3.95
$2.15MX$37.03
83.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.45$3.45
$2.26MX$38.96
52.65%
Potato(1kg)
$2.14$2.14
$1.98MX$34.15
8.08%
Onion(1kg)
$2.20$2.20
$1.99MX$34.30
10.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.91$1.91
$1.23MX$21.28
55.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92$1.92
$1.20MX$20.63
60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.13$10.13
$4.55MX$78.5
122.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.39$13.39
$10.37MX$179
29.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69$1.69
$1.62MX$27.91
4.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48$3.48
$2.88MX$49.67
20.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Hillsboro, OR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.82$2.82
$0.60MX$10.35
370.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$101$101
$28.80MX$497
250.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.89$4.89
$5.39MX$92.9
-9.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35$1.35
$3.73MX$64.3
-63.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$30.43$30.43
$5.77MX$99.5
427.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17$1.17
$1.54MX$26.48
-24.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K$18.3K
$22.5KMX$388.8K
-18.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K$22.4K
$26.1KMX$449.3K
-14.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hillsboro, OR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$147$147
$91.4MX$1,576
60.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.03$40.03
$25.20MX$435
58.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.22$48.22
$31.24MX$539
54.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hillsboro, OR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.7$51.7
$67.2MX$1,159
-23.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.16$12.16
$29.11MX$502
-58.23%
Cinema Ticket
$14.23$14.23
$4.86MX$83.8
192.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hillsboro, OR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,218$1,218
$224MX$3,856
444.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.4K$12.4K
$4,229MX$72.9K
192.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hillsboro, OR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.71$37.71
$47.10MX$812
-19.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.09$39.09
$44.29MX$764
-11.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.9$93.9
$80.1MX$1,381
17.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.1$86.1
$92.7MX$1,598
-7.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hillsboro, OR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,887$1,887
$1,063MX$18.3K
77.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,654$1,654
$390MX$6,728
323.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,850$2,850
$2,149MX$37.1K
32.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,104$2,104
$1,272MX$21.9K
65.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,393$3,393
$4,001MX$69.0K
-15.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,325$3,325
$6,502MX$112.1K
-48.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hillsboro, OR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,741$4,741
$758MX$13.1K
525.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.07
11.45
-46.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hillsboro, OR: September 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,887 in Hillsboro, OR versus $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 525% higher in Hillsboro, OR, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Hillsboro, OR versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $387 vs $276 – making Playa del Carmen 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
Hillsboro, OR vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hillsboro, OR or Playa del Carmen?
Hillsboro, OR costs about 131% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Hillsboro, OR and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,394 per month in Hillsboro, OR and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Hillsboro, OR or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Hillsboro, OR compared to Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,930 in Hillsboro, OR and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Hillsboro, OR compared to Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 250% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Hillsboro, OR or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in Hillsboro, OR at $2,930. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hillsboro, OR it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Hillsboro, OR or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,266 versus $2,930 in Hillsboro, OR. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Hillsboro, OR or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hillsboro, OR makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Hillsboro, OR vs other spots: cost of living compared