Cost of Living Comparison Between Hopkins and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Hopkins and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $158 per month in Hopkins vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $258 per month in Hopkins vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $357 per month in Hopkins vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Hopkins is about 88% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Hopkins and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Hopkins 89% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.68 BZD 27.37

$11.96 MX$203

14.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.38 MX$805

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.75 MX$200

Cappuccino

$4.12 MX$70.0

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

$1.40 MX$23.77

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.50

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 MX$54.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 MX$120

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.48

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 MX$36.53

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MX$30.14

Eggs

$2.82 MX$47.82

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.20 MX$156

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.23 MX$157

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.64 MX$215

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$50.1

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 MX$26.82

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 MX$37.76

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.14

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 MX$33.85

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 MX$33.62

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 MX$21.07

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 MX$20.58

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.60 MX$78.2

Wine (Bottle)

$10.52 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 MX$28.74

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 MX$47.13

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.24

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$505

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.24 MX$89.0

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.65 MX$62.0

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 MX$98.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.13

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

$22.8K MX$387.3K

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

$25.8K MX$438.5K

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

$90.7 MX$1,540

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

$25.19 MX$428

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.75 MX$539

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,169

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$499

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$82.6

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

$226 MX$3,834

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,194 MX$71.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.38 MX$805

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.45 MX$738

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 BZD 235

$80.2 MX$1,363

46.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.4 MX$1,552

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 MX$18.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 MX$6,942

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,972 MX$33.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 MX$21.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 MX$13.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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

Last update for Hopkins: September 7, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

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

Hopkins vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 724%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $238 per month in Hopkins and $1,958 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Hopkins, where all-in costs run around $158, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Hopkins it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Hopkins – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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