πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $112 in HuΓ‘nuco versus $1,294 in Playa del Carmen.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $200 in HuΓ‘nuco versus $2,189 in Playa del Carmen.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $288 in HuΓ‘nuco versus $3,084 in Playa del Carmen.
πLiving in HuΓ‘nuco costs roughly 91% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: HuΓ‘nuco92% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
HuΓ‘nuco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.54PENΒ 12.08
$11.73MX$202
-69.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.69PENΒ 60.3
$41.78MX$719
-57.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$10.41MX$179
-
Cappuccino
-
$3.61MX$62.1
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86PENΒ 2.92
$1.46MX$25.06
-41.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54PENΒ 1.82
$0.97MX$16.70
-44.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.92MX$50.3
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.62MX$79.5
-
π Groceries & Markets
HuΓ‘nuco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$1.43MX$24.59
-
White Bread(500g)
-
$1.90MX$32.70
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.57MX$26.95
-
Eggs
$1.59PENΒ 5.42
$2.64MX$45.34
-39.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$8.44MX$145
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$8.58MX$148
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$11.00MX$189
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.42PENΒ 8.25
$2.70MX$46.51
-10.37%
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.51MX$25.92
-
Oranges(1kg)
$0.54PENΒ 1.83
$1.91MX$32.93
-71.73%
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.17MX$37.37
-
Potato(1kg)
$0.54PENΒ 1.85
$1.87MX$32.25
-71.12%
Onion(1kg)
-
$2.23MX$38.43
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.29PENΒ 1.00
$1.08MX$18.60
-73.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59PENΒ 2.00
$1.07MX$18.47
-44.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.16MX$71.6
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.29MX$177
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.68MX$28.95
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.53MX$43.59
-
π Getting Around
HuΓ‘nuco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.55MX$9.53
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.29MX$452
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.20MX$55.0
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.51PENΒ 1.75
$2.46MX$42.37
-79.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.20MX$55.0
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33PENΒ 4.54
$1.32MX$22.72
0.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$30.2KMX$518.8K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.4KMX$402.5K
-
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
HuΓ‘nuco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$24.66PENΒ 84.1
$81.4MX$1,400
-69.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$22.41MX$386
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.06PENΒ 65.0
$29.97MX$516
-36.40%
π Sport & Entertainment
HuΓ‘nuco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$51.6MX$887
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39MX$316
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.16MX$88.9
-
π§Έ Childcare & Education
HuΓ‘nuco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$202MX$3,471
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,311MX$91.4K
-
ππ Clothing & Footwear
HuΓ‘nuco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$35.61MX$613
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$40.37MX$695
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$78.6MX$1,353
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$86.9MX$1,495
-
π Accommodation & Living
HuΓ‘nuco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$950MX$16.3K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$478MX$8,227
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$195PENΒ 665
$1,621MX$27.9K
-87.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,223MX$21.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,009MX$69.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,473MX$111.4K
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
HuΓ‘nuco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$673MX$11.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
11.42
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for HuΓ‘nuco: June 15, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
πDining out: $18.00 in HuΓ‘nuco vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $30.00 vs $254 per month, with HuΓ‘nuco cheaper across the board.
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
HuΓ‘nuco vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than HuΓ‘nuco?
HuΓ‘nuco is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around, Clothing & Footwear. The 1054% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $168 in HuΓ‘nuco and $1,941 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do food prices compare in HuΓ‘nuco and Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 733% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in HuΓ‘nuco or Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in HuΓ‘nuco β a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for HuΓ‘nuco or Playa del Carmen?
At $112 in HuΓ‘nuco versus $1,294 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in HuΓ‘nuco but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes HuΓ‘nuco the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is HuΓ‘nuco or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, HuΓ‘nuco is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, HuΓ‘nuco or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, HuΓ‘nuco and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find HuΓ‘nuco gentler on the wallet β expenses run 1054% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.