Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Hillsboro, OR Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Hillsboro, OR

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,507 in Hillsboro, OR, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,612 in Hillsboro, OR, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,717 in Hillsboro, OR, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 48% cheaper than Hillsboro, OR, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Hillsboro, OR is 87% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Hillsboro, OR
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$18.70 $18.70
-37.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$721
$59.8 $59.8
-30.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$9.98 $9.98
6.61%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$61.0
$4.21 $4.21
-16.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.17
$2.59 $2.59
-41.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.87
$2.07 $2.07
-53.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.1
$4.89 $4.89
-39.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.2
$6.11 $6.11
-27.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Hillsboro, OR
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.97
$1.02 $1.02
35.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.78
$3.77 $3.77
-49.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.37
$7.22 $7.22
-77.29%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.42
$4.13 $4.13
-39.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$13.04 $13.04
-36.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$11.35 $11.35
-26.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
$19.56 $19.56
-45.14%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.12
$4.21 $4.21
-38.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.25
$1.50 $1.50
-2.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.94
$3.79 $3.79
-49.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.98
$3.66 $3.66
-43.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.77
$2.11 $2.11
-15.64%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.87
$2.01 $2.01
8.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$18.02
$2.08 $2.08
-50.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.66
$1.70 $1.70
-36.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.7
$9.36 $9.36
-56.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$179
$13.61 $13.61
-24.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.67
$1.71 $1.71
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.63
$1.53 $1.53
68.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Hillsboro, OR
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.83
$2.71 $2.71
-81.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$459
$101 $101
-73.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.5
$3.58 $3.58
-8.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.17
$1.67 $1.67
49.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.3
$29.56 $29.56
-89.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.65
$1.02 $1.02
28.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$524.7K
$22.9K $22.9K
32.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$406.0K
$25.9K $25.9K
-9.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Hillsboro, OR
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,436
$127 $127
-34.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$385
$42.38 $42.38
-47.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$508
$48.65 $48.65
-39.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Hillsboro, OR
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$895
$30.19 $30.19
71.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.8
$12.20 $12.20
-58.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Hillsboro, OR
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,480
$1,503 $1,503
-86.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.3K
$12.0K $12.0K
-56.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Hillsboro, OR
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$640
$47.25 $47.25
-21.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$689
$25.30 $25.30
57.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,360
$95.9 $95.9
-18.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,509
$78.3 $78.3
11.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Hillsboro, OR
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.9K
$1,868 $1,868
-47.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,105
$1,315 $1,315
-64.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$2,683 $2,683
-38.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.2K
$1,996 $1,996
-38.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.4K
$3,419 $3,419
15.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.6K
$3,373 $3,373
92.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Hillsboro, OR
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
$4,686 $4,686
-85.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.45
77.05%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Hillsboro, OR: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,868 in Hillsboro, OR. 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 606% higher in Hillsboro, OR, 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $60.0 in Hillsboro, OR. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $389 – 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 Hillsboro, OR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Hillsboro, OR?
Hillsboro, OR costs about 93% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen vs Hillsboro, OR?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,761 in Hillsboro, OR. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Hillsboro, OR?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Hillsboro, OR?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $2,507 in Hillsboro, OR. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen vs Hillsboro, OR?
Public transport costs about 280% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or Hillsboro, OR?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Hillsboro, OR at $2,507. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hillsboro, OR it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Hillsboro, OR?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,297 versus $2,507 in Hillsboro, OR. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or Hillsboro, OR?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hillsboro, OR makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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