😐A single person spends $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $529 in Hatton, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $866 in Hatton, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,202 in Hatton, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 140% 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
$11.87MX$204
$3.96LKR 1,320
199.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$736
$25.26LKR 8,425
69.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$183
$8.43LKR 2,812
26.33%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.2
$2.72LKR 908
26.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.81
$0.70LKR 232
114.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.28
$0.38LKR 125
150.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$51.9
$2.30LKR 767
31.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.1
$3.33LKR 1,111
38.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.61
$1.79LKR 597
-22.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.70
$0.52LKR 175
255.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.65
$0.86LKR 288
87.21%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.51
$2.19LKR 732
18.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$142
$13.96LKR 4,655
-40.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$144
$4.55LKR 1,518
83.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$183
$7.91LKR 2,638
34.77%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.12
$7.55LKR 2,520
-65.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.53
$1.12LKR 374
33.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.94
$5.91LKR 1,972
-67.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.81
$1.26LKR 421
65.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$31.88
$1.15LKR 385
61.74%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.81
$1.37LKR 456
64.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.23
$1.19LKR 397
-10.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.67
$0.59LKR 197
84.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.2
$9.92LKR 3,307
-58.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$178
$12.46LKR 4,158
-16.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.59
$2.01LKR 670
-14.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$44.85
$2.83LKR 945
-7.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.30
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$462
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$53.7
$0.41LKR 138
663.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.09
$0.33LKR 109
660.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.1
$0.58LKR 193
443.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$21.88
$1.21LKR 403
4.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$521.3K
$27.3KLKR 9.1M
11.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$404.5K
$34.2KLKR 11.4M
-31.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,425
$59.5LKR 19.8K
39.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$390
$4.31LKR 1,436
426.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$506
$15.17LKR 5,059
94.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$875
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$315
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$84.5
$3.44LKR 1,149
43.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,386
$36.88LKR 12.3K
434.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$90.6K
$434LKR 144.8K
1116.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$633
$27.77LKR 9,262
32.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$685
$19.53LKR 6,515
104.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,373
$69.7LKR 23.3K
14.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,536
$38.32LKR 12.8K
133.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.4K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,189
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.3K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$110.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Hatton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.4K
-
-
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Hatton: June 7, 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 – $250 in Playa del Carmen vs $257 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 140%, 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 $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $794 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 $1,271 in Playa del Carmen and $529 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 $197 per month in Playa del Carmen and $36.88 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 $529, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. 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