Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Hampton, VA Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Hampton, VA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,296 in Hampton, VA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,877 in Hampton, VA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Playa del Carmen versus $6,457 in Hampton, VA.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 62% less than in Hampton, VA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 5% below, Hampton, VA is 148% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Hampton, VA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 MX$203
$22.21 $22.21
-47.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89 MX$725
$74.4 $74.4
-43.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 MX$182
$13.05 $13.05
-19.46%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.0
$5.37 $5.37
-33.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.10
$3.20 $3.20
-52.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 MX$15.83
$2.41 $2.41
-61.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.96 MX$51.2
$6.49 $6.49
-54.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 MX$76.3
$7.81 $7.81
-43.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Hampton, VA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 MX$24.16
$1.38 $1.38
1.45%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.60
$4.22 $4.22
-55.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 MX$26.97
$10.08 $10.08
-84.52%
Eggs
$2.61 MX$45.14
$5.65 $5.65
-53.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 MX$144
$10.16 $10.16
-18.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.35 MX$145
$26.18 $26.18
-68.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$188
$23.22 $23.22
-53.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 MX$46.93
$7.78 $7.78
-65.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$26.04
$2.58 $2.58
-41.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.41
$10.03 $10.03
-81.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.89
$9.59 $9.59
-77.16%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.14
$5.96 $5.96
-68.79%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 MX$38.59
$7.44 $7.44
-70.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.48
$3.54 $3.54
-69.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.79
$4.39 $4.39
-75.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MX$72.4
$10.59 $10.59
-60.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.43 MX$180
$17.76 $17.76
-41.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.68
$1.69 $1.69
-1.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$45.19
$3.77 $3.77
-30.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Hampton, VA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.37
$3.66 $3.66
-85.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.16 MX$453
$54.8 $54.8
-52.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 MX$53.3
$5.09 $5.09
-39.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$41.61
$1.81 $1.81
32.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$54.1
$19.90 $19.90
-84.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.69
$0.81 $0.81
61.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K MX$515.7K
$26.0K $26.0K
14.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$403.5K
$24.6K $24.6K
-5.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Hampton, VA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 MX$1,406
$217 $217
-62.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56 MX$390
$52.6 $52.6
-57.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05 MX$520
$67.1 $67.1
-55.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Hampton, VA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.9 MX$915
$112 $112
-52.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 MX$318
$34.62 $34.62
-46.88%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92 MX$85.1
$15.07 $15.07
-67.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Hampton, VA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,474
$1,324 $1,324
-84.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,175 MX$89.5K
$15.2K $15.2K
-65.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Hampton, VA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92 MX$622
$48.08 $48.08
-25.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13 MX$694
$39.79 $39.79
0.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.7 MX$1,379
$116 $116
-31.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 MX$1,496
$119 $119
-27.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Hampton, VA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$978 MX$16.9K
$1,479 $1,479
-33.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 MX$8,140
$1,547 $1,547
-69.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,651 MX$28.6K
$2,611 $2,611
-36.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,203 MX$20.8K
$2,641 $2,641
-54.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,953 MX$68.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,607 MX$114.3K
$2,282 $2,282
189.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Hampton, VA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$677 MX$11.7K
$3,724 $3,724
-81.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.26
82.43%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Last update for Hampton, VA: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $978 in Playa del Carmen and $1,479 in Hampton, VA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hampton, VA pays 450% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $74.0 in Hampton, VA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $644 per month, with Playa del Carmen 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
Playa del Carmen vs Hampton, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hampton, VA cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 162% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Hampton, VA?
On paper, salaries run 450% lower in Hampton, VA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Hampton, VA?
Rent for a central apartment: $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,479 in Hampton, VA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Hampton, VA?
All in, you'll spend $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $3,296 in Hampton, VA – a 162% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 109% less than in Hampton, VA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Hampton, VA?
At $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,296 in Hampton, VA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Hampton, VA. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Hampton, VA more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Hampton, VA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 162% less than in Hampton, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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