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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $486 per month in Hue vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $845 per month in Hue vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,204 per month in Hue vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Hue is about 61% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Hue and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Hue 64% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.18 ₫31.0K

$11.99 MX$210

-90.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.80 ₫284.1K

$41.78 MX$731

-74.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.44 ₫116.6K

$10.75 MX$188

-58.70%

Cappuccino

$1.05 ₫27.5K

$3.50 MX$61.1

-70.00%

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

$0.50 ₫13.2K

$1.45 MX$25.33

-65.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₫8,189

$0.88 MX$15.47

-64.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.76 ₫19.9K

$2.95 MX$51.6

-74.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 ₫29.5K

$4.51 MX$78.9

-75.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 ₫35.4K

$1.43 MX$25.04

-5.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 ₫24.9K

$1.84 MX$32.13

-48.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.61 ₫16.1K

$1.57 MX$27.42

-61.15%

Eggs

$1.12 ₫29.5K

$2.51 MX$43.92

-55.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.53 ₫329.5K

$8.28 MX$145

51.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.67 ₫96.4K

$8.43 MX$147

-56.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.97 ₫262.0K

$10.68 MX$187

-6.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.20 ₫57.7K

$2.61 MX$45.62

-15.71%

Banana (1kg)

$0.62 ₫16.3K

$1.44 MX$25.15

-56.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.07 ₫28.1K

$1.96 MX$34.31

-45.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 ₫14.0K

$2.09 MX$36.62

-74.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 ₫17.2K

$1.85 MX$32.37

-64.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 ₫18.8K

$2.17 MX$37.90

-67.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 ₫17.2K

$1.03 MX$18.04

-36.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 ₫9,341

$1.07 MX$18.78

-66.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.32 ₫34.6K

$4.10 MX$71.7

-67.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.82 ₫205.7K

$10.17 MX$178

-23.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₫20.9K

$1.68 MX$29.29

-52.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₫34.7K

$2.53 MX$44.17

-47.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 ₫8,697

$0.51 MX$8.90

-35.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.45 ₫195.8K

$26.04 MX$455

-71.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 ₫12.1K

$3.23 MX$56.5

-85.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 ₫16.1K

$2.41 MX$42.06

-74.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.43 ₫63.8K

$3.23 MX$56.5

-24.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 ₫19.6K

$1.32 MX$23.10

-43.18%

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

$32.1K ₫842.8M

$29.7K MX$519.2K

7.94%

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

$28.7K ₫754.9M

$23.7K MX$413.7K

21.35%

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

$37.49 ₫985.6K

$82.0 MX$1,434

-54.29%

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

$5.90 ₫155.1K

$22.95 MX$401

-74.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.72 ₫203.0K

$30.11 MX$527

-74.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.9 ₫1.3M

$52.0 MX$909

-2.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.54 ₫198.3K

$18.53 MX$324

-59.31%

Cinema Ticket

$3.14 ₫82.4K

$4.98 MX$87.0

-36.95%

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

$156 ₫4.1M

$197 MX$3,452

-21.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,917 ₫234.4M

$5,336 MX$93.3K

67.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.77 ₫809.0K

$35.60 MX$622

-13.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.67 ₫491.0K

$40.33 MX$705

-53.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.65 ₫1.0M

$78.8 MX$1,377

-50.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.60 ₫988.6K

$88.9 MX$1,555

-57.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$132 ₫3.5M

$947 MX$16.6K

-86.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$97.0 ₫2.6M

$474 MX$8,288

-79.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$522 ₫13.7M

$1,644 MX$28.7K

-68.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$352 ₫9.3M

$1,211 MX$21.2K

-70.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,464 ₫38.5M

$4,056 MX$70.9K

-63.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,122 ₫29.5M

$6,470 MX$113.1K

-82.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$283 ₫7.5M

$654 MX$11.4K

-56.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.87

11.42

-39.84%

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

Last update for Hue: July 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $132 in Hue versus $947 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 131% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $11.00 in Hue versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $170 vs $249 – making Hue 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 158%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $730 per month in Hue and $1,884 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 Hue, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 250% less in Hue. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $156 per month in Hue and $197 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Hue, where all-in costs run around $486, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Hue it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Hue – 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 Hue. 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.