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 $404 per month in Hopkins vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $683 per month in Hopkins vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $963 per month in Hopkins vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Hopkins is about 69% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Hopkins and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Hopkins 70% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.08 BZD 16.17

$11.73 MX$203

-31.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.30 BZD 40.61

$41.62 MX$720

-51.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

Cappuccino

$3.07 BZD 6.14

$3.52 MX$60.9

-12.78%

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

$1.48 BZD 2.95

$1.51 MX$26.12

-1.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 BZD 2.02

$0.97 MX$16.84

4.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 BZD 5.12

$2.95 MX$51.0

-13.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.10 BZD 8.20

$4.45 MX$77.0

-7.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 BZD 2.94

$1.38 MX$23.93

6.52%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 BZD 1.95

$1.89 MX$32.72

-48.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 BZD 3.92

$1.64 MX$28.32

19.51%

Eggs

$2.20 BZD 4.39

$2.51 MX$43.34

-12.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.08 BZD 6.16

$8.34 MX$144

-63.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.12 BZD 8.24

$8.34 MX$144

-50.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.02 BZD 8.04

$10.73 MX$186

-62.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.04

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 BZD 3.95

$1.46 MX$25.20

34.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 BZD 4.05

$1.90 MX$32.87

6.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.05 BZD 4.10

$2.08 MX$35.91

-1.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 BZD 3.94

$1.78 MX$30.71

10.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.96 BZD 3.92

$2.19 MX$37.80

-10.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 BZD 3.94

$1.04 MX$17.99

89.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 BZD 5.11

$1.08 MX$18.62

136.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.82 BZD 7.64

$4.08 MX$70.6

-6.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 BZD 4.67

$1.71 MX$29.61

36.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 BZD 6.04

$2.58 MX$44.54

17.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 BZD 2.95

$1.31 MX$22.61

12.98%

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

$30.3K MX$523.7K

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

$23.4K MX$405.3K

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

$82.9 MX$1,433

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

$22.22 MX$384

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.36 BZD 80.7

$51.6 MX$893

-21.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.6

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

$201 MX$3,473

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$639

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 BZD 236

$78.5 MX$1,357

50.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,506

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,090

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for Hopkins: May 30, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Hopkins versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $249 – making Hopkins 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 221%, 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 $607 per month in Hopkins and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 39% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Hopkins and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Hopkins, where all-in costs run around $404, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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.