🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,937 in Hanko.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,000 in Hanko.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,374 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,062 in Hanko.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 33% less than in Hanko, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Hanko is 41% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Hanko
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71MX$198
$17.07€14.69
-31.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.59MX$786
$92.1€79.2
-49.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65MX$197
$12.25€10.55
-4.90%
Cappuccino
$4.09MX$69.1
$5.43€4.67
-24.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37MX$23.20
$3.16€2.72
-56.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83MX$14.07
$2.01€1.73
-58.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.35MX$56.6
$8.29€7.13
-59.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91MX$117
$9.08€7.81
-23.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Hanko
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73MX$29.15
$1.27€1.10
36.22%
White Bread(500g)
$2.26MX$38.15
$2.78€2.39
-18.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$29.86
$2.51€2.16
-29.48%
Eggs
$2.73MX$46.12
$3.40€2.93
-19.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.18MX$155
$9.36€8.05
-1.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.92MX$151
$14.55€12.52
-38.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.60MX$213
$22.70€19.54
-44.49%
Apples(1kg)
$3.02MX$51.0
$2.43€2.09
24.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57MX$26.51
$2.18€1.88
-27.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13MX$35.88
$2.66€2.28
-19.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.22
$4.12€3.55
-45.15%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00MX$33.82
$1.30€1.12
53.85%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06MX$34.85
$2.00€1.72
3.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18MX$19.91
$2.99€2.58
-60.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.32
$2.07€1.78
-42.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.63MX$78.2
$13.55€11.66
-65.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.69MX$180
$16.49€14.19
-35.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.33
$3.21€2.76
-49.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$48.63
$3.50€3.01
-17.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Hanko
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.57MX$9.68
$3.52€3.03
-83.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.83MX$503
$72.9€62.8
-59.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$91.9
$4.63€3.99
17.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.70MX$62.5
$1.35€1.16
174.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.98MX$101
$69.6€59.9
-91.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.22
$2.38€2.05
-34.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3KMX$376.8K
$38.0K€32.7K
-41.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KMX$438.0K
$38.8K€33.4K
-33.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Hanko
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.1MX$1,504
$139€120
-35.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04MX$423
$25.15€21.64
-0.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.50MX$532
$25.31€21.78
24.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Hanko
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.8MX$1,144
$48.74€41.94
39.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.92MX$488
$26.28€22.61
10.05%
Cinema Ticket
$5.05MX$85.2
$18.68€16.07
-72.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Hanko
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$225MX$3,797
$343€295
-34.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,222MX$71.3K
$12.9K€11.1K
-67.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Hanko
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44MX$801
$99.0€85.2
-52.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98MX$759
$49.55€42.64
-9.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.0MX$1,384
$107€91.7
-23.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1MX$1,555
$160€138
-42.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Hanko
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,069MX$18.0K
$694€597
54.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$405MX$6,842
$639€550
-36.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,935MX$32.7K
$1,410€1,213
37.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,301MX$22.0K
$919€790
41.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,995MX$67.4K
$3,675€3,162
8.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,626MX$111.8K
$2,304€1,983
187.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Hanko
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$749MX$12.6K
$4,583€3,944
-83.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
3.51
226.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Last update for Hanko: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen and $694 in Hanko. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hanko pays 512% 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: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $92.0 in Hanko for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $390 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 Hanko: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hanko cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 50% 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 512% 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: $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $694 in Hanko. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $225 in Playa del Carmen versus $343 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?
Supermarket bills run roughly 41% higher in Hanko. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Hanko?
At $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,937 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 50% less than in Hanko. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared