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 $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $266 in Choluteca, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $340 in Choluteca, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $414 in Choluteca, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 373% more than Choluteca, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Choluteca are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Choluteca 80% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 MX$210

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$733

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$189

Cappuccino

$3.50 MX$61.3

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

$1.45 MX$25.41

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 MX$15.52

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$79.1

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$25.12

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$32.23

$1.13 HNL 30.21

62.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$27.51

$2.15 HNL 57.4

-26.98%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$44.06

$1.21 HNL 32.38

107.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 MX$145

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$148

$2.26 HNL 60.5

273.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 MX$187

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 MX$45.76

$2.24 HNL 59.8

16.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.22

$2.18 HNL 58.4

-33.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$34.41

$2.26 HNL 60.3

-13.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$36.74

$2.25 HNL 60.3

-7.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.47

$2.23 HNL 59.7

-17.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$38.02

$2.24 HNL 59.8

-3.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MX$18.09

$1.02 HNL 27.16

0.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.84

$0.97 HNL 25.97

10.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$72.0

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.38

$1.47 HNL 39.19

14.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$44.31

$0.99 HNL 26.39

155.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.93

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$457

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$42.19

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$23.17

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

$29.7K MX$520.9K

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

$23.7K MX$415.0K

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

$82.0 MX$1,439

$103 HNL 2,746

-20.15%

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

$22.95 MX$403

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.11 MX$528

$52.1 HNL 1,392

-42.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$912

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$87.3

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

$197 MX$3,463

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$93.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$624

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$707

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,381

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,560

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,314

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$71.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$113.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Choluteca: July 12, 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 373%, 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 $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $398 in Choluteca. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $266 in Choluteca. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 113% 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 $266, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. 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.