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 $3,836 per month in Honolulu, HI vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,977 per month in Honolulu, HI vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,118 per month in Honolulu, HI vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Honolulu, HI costs about 203% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Honolulu, HI sits 180% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.50 $27.50

$11.60 MX$200

137.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$47.11 MX$812

200.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$11.88 MX$205

26.77%

Cappuccino

$9.91 $9.91

$3.98 MX$68.6

148.99%

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

$4.85 $4.85

$1.43 MX$24.60

239.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 $3.55

$0.82 MX$14.22

332.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.01 $10.01

$3.19 MX$55.0

213.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.90 $10.90

$6.79 MX$117

60.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.68 MX$28.89

39.29%

White Bread (500g)

$7.81 $7.81

$2.20 MX$37.88

255.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$9.89 $9.89

$1.71 MX$29.45

478.36%

Eggs

$8.96 $8.96

$2.74 MX$47.26

227.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$28.62 $28.62

$9.58 MX$165

198.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$20.11 $20.11

$9.01 MX$155

123.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.38 $21.38

$12.81 MX$221

66.90%

Apples (1kg)

$7.95 $7.95

$2.89 MX$49.81

175.09%

Banana (1kg)

$5.21 $5.21

$1.50 MX$25.81

247.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.14 $7.14

$2.15 MX$37.03

232.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.49 $9.49

$2.26 MX$38.96

319.91%

Potato (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$1.98 MX$34.15

140.91%

Onion (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$1.99 MX$34.30

139.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.15 $5.15

$1.23 MX$21.28

318.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.18 $3.18

$1.20 MX$20.63

165.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.51 $12.51

$4.55 MX$78.5

174.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.10 $18.10

$10.37 MX$179

74.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.62 MX$27.91

64.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.80 $5.80

$2.88 MX$49.67

101.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$0.60 MX$10.35

386.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.1 $89.1

$28.80 MX$497

209.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.59 $3.59

$5.39 MX$92.9

-33.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.63 $2.63

$3.73 MX$64.3

-29.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$45.32 $45.32

$5.77 MX$99.5

685.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.54 MX$26.48

-11.04%

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

$35.2K $35.2K

$22.5K MX$388.8K

55.96%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$26.1K MX$449.3K

3.26%

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

$249 $249

$91.4 MX$1,576

172.89%

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

$70.6 $70.6

$25.20 MX$435

180.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.0 $62.0

$31.24 MX$539

98.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.8 $64.8

$67.2 MX$1,159

-3.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$31.50 $31.50

$29.11 MX$502

8.21%

Cinema Ticket

$19.72 $19.72

$4.86 MX$83.8

305.76%

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

$2,126 $2,126

$224 MX$3,856

850.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.5K $27.5K

$4,229 MX$72.9K

550.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.7 $61.7

$47.10 MX$812

31.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.58 $46.58

$44.29 MX$764

5.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.7 $99.7

$80.1 MX$1,381

24.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 $131

$92.7 MX$1,598

41.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,895 $2,895

$1,063 MX$18.3K

172.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,980 $1,980

$390 MX$6,728

407.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,963 $4,963

$2,149 MX$37.1K

130.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,632 $3,632

$1,272 MX$21.9K

185.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,687 $8,687

$4,001 MX$69.0K

117.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,132 $7,132

$6,502 MX$112.1K

9.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,131 $4,131

$758 MX$13.1K

444.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.26

11.45

-45.33%

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

Last update for Honolulu, HI: September 14, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,895 in Honolulu, HI 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 445% 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 $142 in Honolulu, HI versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $718 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

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

Honolulu, HI costs about 203% 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 $5,755 per month in Honolulu, HI and $1,899 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 $3,836 in Honolulu, HI and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 209% 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 $1,266, than in Honolulu, HI at $3,836. 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 $1,266 versus $3,836 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.