😐A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $506 in Hatton, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $820 in Hatton, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,135 in Hatton, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 150% more than Hatton, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Hatton are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen7% lower, Hatton63% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$4.31LKR 1,424
169.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$811
$26.41LKR 8,731
78.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$7.63LKR 2,523
55.70%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.5
$2.46LKR 813
61.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.57
$0.69LKR 229
107.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.20
$0.27LKR 89.6
203.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$54.9
$2.20LKR 727
45.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$3.10LKR 1,024
119.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.85
$1.63LKR 537
3.07%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.83
$0.54LKR 178
307.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.41
$0.75LKR 249
128.00%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.20
$1.60LKR 530
71.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$13.42LKR 4,439
-28.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$5.03LKR 1,662
79.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$7.19LKR 2,379
78.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.74
$6.67LKR 2,205
-56.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.78
$0.84LKR 276
78.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.98
$4.18LKR 1,381
-48.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.91
$1.30LKR 429
73.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.10
$1.05LKR 348
88.57%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.26
$0.74LKR 246
168.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.25
$0.94LKR 310
30.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.60
$0.45LKR 150
166.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.3
$10.32LKR 3,411
-55.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$13.57LKR 4,487
-23.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.88
$1.99LKR 660
-18.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.60
$2.87LKR 949
0.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.34
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$496
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.8
$0.42LKR 137
1183.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.2
$0.38LKR 127
881.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.3
$0.88LKR 292
555.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.45
$1.29LKR 425
19.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.3K
$30.1KLKR 9.9M
-25.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$448.7K
$41.9KLKR 13.8M
-37.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,573
$56.0LKR 18.5K
63.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$434
$4.11LKR 1,358
513.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$538
$21.21LKR 7,012
47.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,157
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$501
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.7
$4.50LKR 1,489
8.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,851
$37.59LKR 12.4K
494.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.8K
$1,227LKR 405.7K
244.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$811
$19.90LKR 6,579
136.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$763
$16.94LKR 5,601
161.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,379
$78.3LKR 25.9K
2.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,596
$43.07LKR 14.2K
115.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,719
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$68.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
12.69
-9.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Last update for Hatton: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $26.00 in Hatton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $236 – making Hatton the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 150%, 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 $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $758 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 $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $506 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 $224 per month in Playa del Carmen and $37.59 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 $506, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. 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