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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,831 in Hamilton, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $9,260 in Hamilton, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $13.7K in Hamilton, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 73% cheaper than Hamilton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Hamilton is 261% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$60.6 BMD 60.6

-80.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$720

$177 BMD 177

-76.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$14.87 BMD 14.87

-28.45%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$60.9

$6.46 BMD 6.46

-45.51%

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

$1.51 MX$26.12

$3.37 BMD 3.37

-55.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.84

$2.90 BMD 2.90

-66.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

$10.16 BMD 10.16

-70.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

$8.44 BMD 8.44

-47.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.93

$4.38 BMD 4.38

-68.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.72

$8.71 BMD 8.71

-78.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.32

$5.59 BMD 5.59

-70.66%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.34

$7.75 BMD 7.75

-67.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$11.49 BMD 11.49

-27.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$24.12 BMD 24.12

-65.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$31.75 BMD 31.75

-66.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.04

$10.16 BMD 10.16

-74.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.20

$6.18 BMD 6.18

-76.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.87

$12.86 BMD 12.86

-85.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.91

$11.27 BMD 11.27

-81.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.71

$8.15 BMD 8.15

-78.16%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.80

$4.96 BMD 4.96

-55.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.99

$6.06 BMD 6.06

-82.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.62

$3.21 BMD 3.21

-66.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.6

$17.58 BMD 17.58

-76.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

$24.56 BMD 24.56

-57.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.61

$5.47 BMD 5.47

-68.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.54

$4.43 BMD 4.43

-41.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

$4.81 BMD 4.81

-89.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

$68.1 BMD 68.1

-61.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

$6.40 BMD 6.40

-49.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

$3.44 BMD 3.44

-27.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

$54.8 BMD 54.8

-94.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.61

$2.36 BMD 2.36

-44.49%

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

$30.3K MX$523.7K

$35.0K BMD 35.0K

-13.56%

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

$23.4K MX$405.3K

$39.7K BMD 39.7K

-41.04%

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

$82.9 MX$1,433

$234 BMD 234

-64.63%

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

$22.22 MX$384

$117 BMD 117

-81.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

$156 BMD 156

-81.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$893

$191 BMD 191

-73.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

$32.31 BMD 32.31

-43.30%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.6

$13.73 BMD 13.73

-63.07%

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

$201 MX$3,473

$1,338 BMD 1,338

-84.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

$24.5K BMD 24.5K

-78.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$639

$78.8 BMD 78.8

-53.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

$60.9 BMD 60.9

-34.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,357

$138 BMD 138

-43.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,506

$126 BMD 126

-30.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

$3,342 BMD 3,342

-70.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,090

$2,198 BMD 2,198

-78.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$8,541 BMD 8,541

-80.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

$7,359 BMD 7,359

-83.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

$15.1K BMD 15.1K

-73.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

$9,439 BMD 9,439

-31.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

$6,759 BMD 6,759

-90.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

7.22

58.17%

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 Hamilton: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,342 in Hamilton. 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 918% higher in Hamilton, 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $177 in Hamilton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $813 – 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, $4,831 in Hamilton – roughly 273% apart. Hamilton costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $7,247 in Hamilton. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $177 in Hamilton. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $4,831 in Hamilton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Hamilton at $4,831. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hamilton it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,297 in Playa del Carmen to $4,831 in Hamilton. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Hamilton makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.