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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $272 in Choluteca, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $342 in Choluteca, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $412 in Choluteca, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 377% more than Choluteca, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Choluteca are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Choluteca 80% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$720

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$60.9

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

$1.51 MX$26.12

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.84

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.93

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.72

$1.09 HNL 28.91

73.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.32

$2.26 HNL 60.3

-27.43%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.34

$1.22 HNL 32.43

105.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$2.23 HNL 59.3

273.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.04

$2.27 HNL 60.3

14.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.20

$2.15 HNL 57.2

-32.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.87

$2.17 HNL 57.7

-12.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.91

$2.16 HNL 57.6

-3.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.71

$2.13 HNL 56.8

-16.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.80

$2.19 HNL 58.3

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.99

$0.98 HNL 26.23

6.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.62

$1.03 HNL 27.31

4.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.6

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.61

$1.46 HNL 38.81

17.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.54

$0.99 HNL 26.26

160.61%

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)

$1.31 MX$22.61

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

$103 HNL 2,730

-19.17%

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

$22.22 MX$384

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

$52.2 HNL 1,391

-43.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$893

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)

$78.5 MX$1,357

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 Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Choluteca: May 31, 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 377%, 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 $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $407 in Choluteca. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $272 in Choluteca. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 115% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Choluteca, where all-in costs run around $272, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Choluteca it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

If budget matters most, go with Choluteca. 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.