😐A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $517 in Hatton, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $847 in Hatton, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,177 in Hatton, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 144% more than Hatton, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Hatton are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Hatton61% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$4.14LKR 1,389
183.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$25.22LKR 8,462
66.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$8.53LKR 2,863
23.21%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$2.66LKR 892
34.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$0.69LKR 231
118.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$0.40LKR 135
130.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$2.40LKR 804
23.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$3.26LKR 1,095
35.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$1.79LKR 600
-21.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$0.56LKR 187
235.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$0.81LKR 270
92.59%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$2.19LKR 735
19.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$14.02LKR 4,706
-40.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$4.79LKR 1,606
74.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$7.95LKR 2,667
36.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$7.28LKR 2,443
-62.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$1.11LKR 372
36.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$5.71LKR 1,916
-67.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$1.21LKR 405
80.99%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$1.15LKR 386
61.74%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$1.42LKR 477
57.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$1.18LKR 397
-9.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$0.57LKR 190
91.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$10.02LKR 3,362
-58.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
$12.68LKR 4,255
-17.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$1.99LKR 669
-16.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
$2.86LKR 960
-8.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$0.39LKR 131
689.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
$0.33LKR 110
627.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$0.61LKR 206
413.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$1.24LKR 416
5.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$26.5KLKR 8.9M
12.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$34.5KLKR 11.6M
-32.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
$61.0LKR 20.5K
33.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
$4.30LKR 1,442
424.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$15.23LKR 5,110
97.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
$3.42LKR 1,146
43.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$36.64LKR 12.3K
448.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$434LKR 145.6K
1092.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$27.99LKR 9,394
28.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$19.61LKR 6,580
104.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$69.2LKR 23.2K
15.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$38.58LKR 12.9K
124.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
-
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Hatton: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $25.00 in Hatton. Groceries tell a different story – $252 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 144%, 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 $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $776 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 and in Hatton?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $517 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 $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $36.64 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 living in Playa del Carmen or in Hatton?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Hatton, where all-in costs run around $517, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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