Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Hermosa Beach, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Hermosa Beach, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,634 in Hermosa Beach, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,867 in Hermosa Beach, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,100 in Hermosa Beach, CA, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 51% cheaper than Hermosa Beach, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Playa del Carmen sits 4% below the global median, while Hermosa Beach, CA is 97% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Hermosa Beach, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94 MX$209
$22.26 $22.26
-46.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$748
$99.8 $99.8
-57.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 MX$185
$11.93 $11.93
-11.23%
Cappuccino
$3.62 MX$63.4
$5.74 $5.74
-36.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.69
$2.67 $2.67
-44.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 MX$16.51
$1.97 $1.97
-52.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$54.1
$8.35 $8.35
-62.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 MX$78.0
$8.57 $8.57
-47.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Hermosa Beach, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$1.08 $1.08
32.41%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.97
$3.98 $3.98
-52.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.50
$4.22 $4.22
-61.37%
Eggs
$2.64 MX$46.26
$6.88 $6.88
-61.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 MX$144
$10.46 $10.46
-21.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$8.88 $8.88
-6.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.10 MX$194
$14.63 $14.63
-24.13%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 MX$46.40
$3.43 $3.43
-22.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$26.26
$1.94 $1.94
-22.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.79
$4.18 $4.18
-52.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.33
$4.85 $4.85
-57.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.29
$3.11 $3.11
-42.44%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.09
$2.43 $2.43
-10.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.84
$1.40 $1.40
-22.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 MX$18.15
$2.11 $2.11
-50.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 MX$69.5
$10.84 $10.84
-63.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.20 MX$179
$14.98 $14.98
-31.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.22
$2.52 $2.52
-31.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 MX$43.71
$3.13 $3.13
-20.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Hermosa Beach, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.07
$2.01 $2.01
-74.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.97 MX$472
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$55.0
$3.02 $3.02
3.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$42.04
$1.69 $1.69
42.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 MX$54.0
$29.75 $29.75
-89.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$22.28
$1.27 $1.27
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K MX$540.4K
$24.3K $24.3K
27.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$408.0K
$24.3K $24.3K
-4.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Hermosa Beach, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,435
$188 $188
-56.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45 MX$393
$46.65 $46.65
-51.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66 MX$519
$69.9 $69.9
-57.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Hermosa Beach, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.9 MX$908
$43.34 $43.34
19.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67 MX$327
$14.71 $14.71
26.92%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 MX$87.0
$15.81 $15.81
-68.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Hermosa Beach, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,462
$1,642 $1,642
-87.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,273 MX$92.3K
$12.7K $12.7K
-58.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Hermosa Beach, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34 MX$636
$55.1 $55.1
-34.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05 MX$701
$34.16 $34.16
17.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 MX$1,398
$83.9 $83.9
-4.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,555
$86.1 $86.1
3.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Hermosa Beach, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.9K
$1,609 $1,609
-40.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,133
$1,330 $1,330
-65.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,596 MX$27.9K
$2,656 $2,656
-39.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 MX$21.2K
$2,263 $2,263
-46.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,942 MX$69.0K
$3,090 $3,090
27.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,448 MX$112.8K
$2,092 $2,092
208.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Hermosa Beach, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$720 MX$12.6K
$6,975 $6,975
-89.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.49
75.96%

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 Hermosa Beach, CA: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,609 in Hermosa Beach, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 868% higher in Hermosa Beach, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $100 in Hermosa Beach, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $378 – making Playa del Carmen 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 Hermosa Beach, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hermosa Beach, CA cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Hermosa Beach, CA is pricier by about 105%, 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 $3,951 in Hermosa Beach, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Hermosa Beach, CA?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $2,634 in Hermosa Beach, CA. 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 $1,642 in Hermosa Beach, CA. 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 Hermosa Beach, CA?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Hermosa Beach, CA at $2,634. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hermosa Beach, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Hermosa Beach, CA more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – 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 Hermosa Beach, CA?
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 Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hermosa Beach, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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