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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,259 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,777 in Hanko.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,177 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,655 in Hanko.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,095 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,533 in Hanko.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 29% less than in Hanko, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Hanko is 33% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Hanko
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.95 MX$208
$15.91 €13.94
-24.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.94 MX$730
$69.0 €60.4
-39.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.42 MX$181
$13.90 €12.18
-25.04%
Cappuccino
$3.51 MX$61.2
$4.13 €3.61
-15.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 MX$26.39
$1.88 €1.65
-19.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 MX$15.84
$1.52 €1.33
-40.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 MX$52.9
$6.91 €6.06
-56.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 MX$76.1
$7.99 €7.00
-45.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Hanko
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 MX$24.73
$1.24 €1.09
14.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 MX$31.87
$1.76 €1.54
3.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.45
$2.26 €1.98
-27.88%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$44.20
$3.44 €3.01
-26.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.57 MX$149
$3.54 €3.10
142.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.49 MX$148
$4.70 €4.12
80.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.80 MX$188
$5.76 €5.05
87.50%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 MX$47.94
$1.14 €1.00
141.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$25.00
$0.88 €0.77
63.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 MX$32.83
$2.39 €2.09
-20.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.77
$4.17 €3.65
-47.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.97
$1.29 €1.13
37.98%
Onion (1kg)
$2.22 MX$38.71
$1.90 €1.67
16.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.60
$1.77 €1.55
-39.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.79
$1.81 €1.58
-40.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15 MX$72.2
$12.53 €10.98
-66.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.45 MX$182
$15.96 €13.98
-34.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 MX$30.34
$3.45 €3.02
-49.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.92
$3.81 €3.34
-32.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Hanko
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.94
$3.40 €2.98
-85.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.94 MX$451
$65.7 €57.6
-60.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.21 MX$55.9
$9.53 €8.35
-66.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.50 MX$43.55
$1.21 €1.06
106.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.19 MX$55.4
$97.2 €85.2
-96.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 MX$21.87
$2.18 €1.91
-42.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K MX$516.6K
$35.3K €30.9K
-15.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K MX$412.1K
$38.2K €33.4K
-37.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Hanko
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,427
$243 €213
-66.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.73 MX$395
$30.06 €26.33
-24.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.42 MX$512
$24.37 €21.35
20.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Hanko
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.2 MX$908
$43.27 €37.91
20.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.45 MX$321
$23.87 €20.91
-22.71%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93 MX$85.9
$17.15 €15.03
-71.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Hanko
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$202 MX$3,511
$356 €312
-43.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,217 MX$90.8K
$7,987 €6,997
-34.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Hanko
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93 MX$625
$88.5 €77.5
-59.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33 MX$702
$44.12 €38.66
-8.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 MX$1,390
$91.5 €80.1
-12.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,554
$159 €139
-43.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Hanko
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$948 MX$16.5K
$771 €675
23.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,097
$644 €564
-27.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,630 MX$28.4K
$1,300 €1,139
25.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,193 MX$20.8K
$1,033 €905
15.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,933 MX$68.4K
$3,545 €3,106
10.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,428 MX$111.9K
$2,133 €1,869
201.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Hanko
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$658 MX$11.5K
$4,522 €3,961
-85.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
3.93
190.59%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026

Last update for Hanko: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $948 in Playa del Carmen and $771 in Hanko. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hanko pays 587% 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 $69.0 in Hanko. Groceries flip the comparison at $252 vs $239, with Hanko cheaper for home cooking.

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 Hanko: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hanko cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Hanko?
On paper, salaries run 587% lower in Hanko. 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 Hanko?
Rent for a central apartment: $948 in Playa del Carmen versus $771 in Hanko. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $202 in Playa del Carmen versus $356 in Hanko. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Hanko?
Shoppers in Hanko pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Hanko?
At $1,259 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,777 in Hanko, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Hanko. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Hanko more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Hanko, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Hanko?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Hanko are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Hanko. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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