Cost of Living Comparison Between Honolulu, HI and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Honolulu, HI and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,655 per month in Honolulu, HI vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,692 per month in Honolulu, HI vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,729 per month in Honolulu, HI vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Honolulu, HI costs about 190% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Honolulu, HI sits 175% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.62 $23.62

$11.72 MX$203

101.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$41.89 MX$725

140.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.02 $15.02

$10.51 MX$182

42.91%

Cappuccino

$6.95 $6.95

$3.59 MX$62.0

93.59%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 $3.66

$1.51 MX$26.10

142.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$0.92 MX$15.83

195.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.10 $8.10

$2.96 MX$51.2

173.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.26 $9.26

$4.41 MX$76.3

109.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.40 MX$24.16

50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$6.84 $6.84

$1.88 MX$32.60

263.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$10.19 $10.19

$1.56 MX$26.97

553.21%

Eggs

$7.55 $7.55

$2.61 MX$45.14

189.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$30.74 $30.74

$8.32 MX$144

269.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.92 $18.92

$8.35 MX$145

126.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.09 $20.09

$10.86 MX$188

84.99%

Apples (1kg)

$6.90 $6.90

$2.71 MX$46.93

154.61%

Banana (1kg)

$4.21 $4.21

$1.51 MX$26.04

178.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.31 $6.31

$1.87 MX$32.41

237.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.41 $8.41

$2.19 MX$37.89

284.02%

Potato (1kg)

$5.05 $5.05

$1.86 MX$32.14

171.51%

Onion (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

$2.23 MX$38.59

104.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.00 $5.00

$1.07 MX$18.48

367.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.09 MX$18.79

188.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.23 $12.23

$4.19 MX$72.4

191.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.67 $17.67

$10.43 MX$180

69.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.66 MX$28.68

50.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.59 $5.59

$2.61 MX$45.19

114.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.09 $3.09

$0.54 MX$9.37

472.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.1 $79.1

$26.16 MX$453

202.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.08 MX$53.3

13.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.40 MX$41.61

10.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$45.43 $45.43

$3.13 MX$54.1

1351.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.31 MX$22.69

-3.82%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.3K $30.3K

$29.8K MX$515.7K

1.63%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.5K $24.5K

$23.3K MX$403.5K

5.08%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$232 $232

$81.3 MX$1,406

185.67%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$22.56 MX$390

188.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.0 $66.0

$30.05 MX$520

119.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.6 $58.6

$52.9 MX$915

10.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.24 $28.24

$18.39 MX$318

53.56%

Cinema Ticket

$15.78 $15.78

$4.92 MX$85.1

220.73%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,525 $1,525

$201 MX$3,474

659.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.5K $20.5K

$5,175 MX$89.5K

296.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 $58.0

$35.92 MX$622

61.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.6 $60.6

$40.13 MX$694

51.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 $104

$79.7 MX$1,379

30.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 $129

$86.5 MX$1,496

49.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,085 $2,085

$978 MX$16.9K

113.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,860 $1,860

$470 MX$8,140

295.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,082 $4,082

$1,651 MX$28.6K

147.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,634 $3,634

$1,203 MX$20.8K

201.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,895 $8,895

$3,953 MX$68.4K

125.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$6,607 MX$114.3K

10.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,052 $4,052

$677 MX$11.7K

498.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.59

11.42

-42.29%

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

Last update for Honolulu, HI: July 28, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,085 in Honolulu, HI versus $978 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 499% higher in Honolulu, HI, 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 $101 in Honolulu, HI versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $676 vs $252 – 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

Honolulu, HI vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Honolulu, HI costs about 190% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,483 per month in Honolulu, HI and $1,890 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,655 in Honolulu, HI and $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 202% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,260, than in Honolulu, HI at $3,655. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Honolulu, HI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,260 versus $3,655 in Honolulu, HI. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Honolulu, HI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.