😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $518 in Hatton, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $857 in Hatton, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,195 in Hatton, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 148% more than Hatton, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Hatton are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, Hatton61% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$3.96LKR 1,262
201.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$24.78LKR 7,901
72.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$8.25LKR 2,630
28.36%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$2.66LKR 850
36.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$0.74LKR 235
98.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.38LKR 120
147.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$2.28LKR 727
35.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$3.28LKR 1,046
35.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.79LKR 570
-20.11%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$0.53LKR 169
254.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$0.86LKR 273
89.53%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$2.11LKR 673
25.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$13.85LKR 4,418
-40.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$4.73LKR 1,508
75.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$8.19LKR 2,612
35.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$7.46LKR 2,379
-64.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$1.12LKR 357
33.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$5.71LKR 1,820
-65.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$1.26LKR 403
65.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$1.10LKR 351
62.73%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$1.41LKR 448
54.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$1.15LKR 365
-6.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.56LKR 180
85.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$9.94LKR 3,169
-60.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$12.67LKR 4,040
-19.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$2.00LKR 637
-13.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$2.83LKR 901
-11.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$0.41LKR 131
665.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$0.32LKR 104
650.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$0.61LKR 193
406.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.21LKR 387
4.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$27.3KLKR 8.7M
13.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$34.3KLKR 10.9M
-32.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$60.5LKR 19.3K
35.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$4.25LKR 1,355
428.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$14.86LKR 4,740
99.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$3.25LKR 1,038
52.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$37.30LKR 11.9K
430.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$434LKR 138.3K
1116.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$27.01LKR 8,614
34.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$19.08LKR 6,085
109.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$69.3LKR 22.1K
15.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$38.15LKR 12.2K
132.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
16.45
-30.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Last update for Hatton: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $25.00 in Hatton. Groceries tell a different story – $251 in Playa del Carmen vs $256 in Hatton – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Hatton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hatton cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 148%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $777 in Hatton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Hatton?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $518 in Hatton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $37.30 in Hatton. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Hatton?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Hatton, where all-in costs run around $518, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Hatton it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Hatton more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Hatton – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Hatton?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Hatton. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared