Cost of Living Comparison Between Hot Springs, AR and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Hot Springs, AR and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,558 per month in Hot Springs, AR vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,483 per month in Hot Springs, AR vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,409 per month in Hot Springs, AR vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Hot Springs, AR costs about 20% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Hot Springs, AR sits 16% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.36 $19.36

$11.73 MX$203

65.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.0 $64.0

$41.62 MX$721

53.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.37 $9.37

$10.64 MX$184

-11.94%

Cappuccino

$5.02 $5.02

$3.52 MX$61.0

42.61%

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

$2.38 $2.38

$1.51 MX$26.17

57.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$0.97 MX$16.87

81.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.10 $5.10

$2.95 MX$51.1

72.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.35 $6.35

$4.45 MX$77.2

42.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.38 MX$23.97

-30.43%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 $2.72

$1.89 MX$32.78

43.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.64 MX$28.37

67.68%

Eggs

$2.33 $2.33

$2.51 MX$43.42

-7.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.95 $7.95

$8.34 MX$145

-4.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$8.34 MX$145

29.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.59 $15.59

$10.73 MX$186

45.29%

Apples (1kg)

$3.74 $3.74

$2.60 MX$45.12

43.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.46 MX$25.25

10.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.62 $4.62

$1.90 MX$32.94

143.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.52 $3.52

$2.08 MX$35.98

69.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

$1.78 MX$30.77

75.84%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.19 MX$37.87

39.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.04 MX$18.02

85.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.08 MX$18.66

44.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.13 $8.13

$4.08 MX$70.7

99.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.22 $19.22

$10.32 MX$179

86.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.71 MX$29.67

-1.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$2.58 MX$44.63

-27.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.51 MX$8.83

147.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.98 $27.98

$26.46 MX$459

5.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 $1.94

$3.26 MX$56.5

-40.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.33 $1.33

$2.49 MX$43.17

-46.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.89 $19.89

$3.25 MX$56.3

512.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$1.31 MX$22.65

-43.51%

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

$17.0K $17.0K

$30.3K MX$524.7K

-43.80%

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

$22.6K $22.6K

$23.4K MX$406.0K

-3.43%

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

$213 $213

$82.9 MX$1,436

156.81%

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

$58.6 $58.6

$22.22 MX$385

163.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.05 $40.05

$29.34 MX$508

36.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.20 $35.20

$51.6 MX$895

-31.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.99 $9.99

$18.32 MX$317

-45.47%

Cinema Ticket

$12.70 $12.70

$5.07 MX$87.8

150.49%

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

$597 $597

$201 MX$3,480

197.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.0K $27.0K

$5,212 MX$90.3K

418.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.82 $39.82

$36.92 MX$640

7.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.12 $32.12

$39.79 MX$689

-19.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.8 $74.8

$78.5 MX$1,360

-4.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.1 $81.1

$87.1 MX$1,509

-6.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$607 $607

$973 MX$16.9K

-37.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 $405

$468 MX$8,105

-13.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,005 $1,005

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-38.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$824 $824

$1,221 MX$21.2K

-32.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,917 $1,917

$3,946 MX$68.4K

-51.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,948 $1,948

$6,498 MX$112.6K

-70.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,531 $3,531

$664 MX$11.5K

431.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.36

11.42

-44.31%

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

Last update for Hot Springs, AR: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $607 in Hot Springs, AR versus $973 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 432% higher in Hot Springs, AR, 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 $64.0 in Hot Springs, AR versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $339 vs $249 – 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

Hot Springs, AR vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hot Springs, AR costs about 20% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,337 per month in Hot Springs, AR and $1,945 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.

Kindergarten costs $597 per month in Hot Springs, AR and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 36% more in Hot Springs, AR, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Hot Springs, AR at $1,558. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hot Springs, AR it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,297 versus $1,558 in Hot Springs, AR. 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, Hot Springs, AR makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.