Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Hialeah, FL

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,801 in Hialeah, FL, rent and utilities included – about $19,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Hialeah, FL, United States
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Hialeah, FL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,801
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Hialeah, FL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Hialeah, FL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,801 in Hialeah, FL.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Hialeah, FL $2,801

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,425 in Hialeah, FL.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Hialeah, FL $4,425

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,959 in Playa del Carmen versus $6,049 in Hialeah, FL.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Hialeah, FL $6,049

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 57% less than in Hialeah, FL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 12% below, Hialeah, FL is 106% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Hialeah, FL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$204
$30.22 $30.22
-63.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$808
$94.0 $94.0
-53.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$220
$12.16 $12.16
-3.13%
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$71.0
$5.50 $5.50
-30.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$23.90
$2.54 $2.54
-49.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.59
$1.85 $1.85
-57.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$59.0
$7.65 $7.65
-58.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$92.0
$9.84 $9.84
-49.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Hialeah, FL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.22
$1.06 $1.06
33.02%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.33
$4.57 $4.57
-51.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.42
$3.19 $3.19
-55.49%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$47.03
$4.73 $4.73
-46.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$135
$13.22 $13.22
-45.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$143
$14.44 $14.44
-46.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$237
$21.63 $21.63
-41.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$51.9
$5.20 $5.20
-46.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.50
$1.71 $1.71
-19.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.55
$4.18 $4.18
-39.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.58
$5.63 $5.63
-62.34%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.13
$3.35 $3.35
-42.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.16
$4.31 $4.31
-56.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.37
$2.97 $2.97
-61.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$21.98
$2.56 $2.56
-53.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$80.1
$9.07 $9.07
-52.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$185
$15.29 $15.29
-34.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.52
$1.78 $1.78
-11.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$49.79
$3.08 $3.08
-13.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Hialeah, FL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.31
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$496
$171 $171
-84.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$92.6
$2.98 $2.98
66.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$62.1
$2.00 $2.00
66.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$99.8
$24.29 $24.29
-77.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$26.92
$1.03 $1.03
39.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$385.2K
$34.9K $34.9K
-40.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$437.4K
$26.6K $26.6K
-11.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Hialeah, FL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,581
$181 $181
-53.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$436
$64.3 $64.3
-63.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$534
$76.3 $76.3
-62.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Hialeah, FL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,063
$20.10 $20.10
183.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$539
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$95.8
$9.91 $9.91
-48.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Hialeah, FL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,851
$1,479 $1,479
-86.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$73.2K
$39.6K $39.6K
-90.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Hialeah, FL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$808
$51.5 $51.5
-15.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$772
$40.91 $40.91
1.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,383
$101 $101
-26.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,664
$108 $108
-17.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Hialeah, FL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.3K
$1,730 $1,730
-43.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,099
$1,248 $1,248
-69.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$31.8K
$3,202 $3,202
-46.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.0K
$2,531 $2,531
-57.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$73.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$114.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Hialeah, FL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.7K
$3,252 $3,252
-77.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
6.56
74.54%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Last update for Hialeah, FL: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Hialeah, FL
$1.2K 228% $867
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Hialeah, FL
$453 77.7% $198
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Hialeah, FL
$420 107% $217
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Hialeah, FL
$321 135% $185
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Hialeah, FL
$135 21.2% $24
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Hialeah, FL
$40 40.7% $27
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Hialeah, FL
$184 * 265% $134

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $980 in Playa del Carmen and $1,730 in Hialeah, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hialeah, FL pays about 4.4 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $43 in Playa del Carmen vs $94 in Hialeah, FL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $255 vs $453 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇺🇸 Hialeah, FL
🕒 Local time
18:47 6:47 PM
19:47 7:47 PM
1 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
224,669
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Hialeah, FL 910 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Hialeah, FL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Hialeah, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Hialeah, FL?
Playa del Carmen is about 57% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and transport. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Hialeah, FL?
On paper, salaries run 77% lower in Playa del Carmen. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Hialeah, FL?
Rent for a central apartment: $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,730 in Hialeah, FL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 84% less than in Hialeah, FL. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $207 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,479 in Hialeah, FL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Hialeah, FL?
At $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,801 in Hialeah, FL, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Hialeah, FL. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Playa del Carmen or in Hialeah, FL?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Hialeah, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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