Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Hilton, NY

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,744 in Hilton, NY, rent and utilities included – about $18,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Hilton, NY, United States
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Hilton, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$2,744
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Hilton, NY

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 Hilton, NY actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,744 in Hilton, NY, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Hilton, NY $2,744

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,925 in Hilton, NY, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Hilton, NY $3,925

A family of three spends $2,959 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,106 in Hilton, NY, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Hilton, NY $5,106

Playa del Carmen is about 56% cheaper than Hilton, NY, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Playa del Carmen sits 12% below the global median, while Hilton, NY is 102% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Hilton, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$206
$20.57 $20.57
-46.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$818
$65.9 $65.9
-34.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$222
$13.04 $13.04
-9.66%
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$71.9
$5.71 $5.71
-33.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$24.19
$2.65 $2.65
-51.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.77
$1.83 $1.83
-57.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$59.7
$5.55 $5.55
-42.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$93.1
$7.29 $7.29
-32.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Hilton, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.53
$1.05 $1.05
34.29%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.82
$3.80 $3.80
-41.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.73
$3.78 $3.78
-62.43%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$47.59
$4.68 $4.68
-46.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$137
$12.85 $12.85
-43.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$145
$12.45 $12.45
-38.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$239
$16.80 $16.80
-24.46%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$52.5
$4.65 $4.65
-40.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.81
$1.40 $1.40
-2.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$48.12
$4.41 $4.41
-42.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$40.05
$4.71 $4.71
-54.99%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.56
$2.62 $2.62
-25.95%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.58
$2.82 $2.82
-32.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.63
$2.13 $2.13
-46.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$22.24
$2.55 $2.55
-53.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$81.0
$11.49 $11.49
-62.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$188
$12.88 $12.88
-22.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.87
$2.22 $2.22
-28.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$50.4
$3.23 $3.23
-17.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Hilton, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.44
$1.89 $1.89
-70.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$502
$61.2 $61.2
-56.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$93.7
$3.34 $3.34
48.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$62.8
$1.99 $1.99
67.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$101
$27.17 $27.17
-80.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$27.24
$0.99 $0.99
45.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$389.8K
$28.0K $28.0K
-26.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$442.6K
$29.5K $29.5K
-20.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Hilton, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,599
$208 $208
-59.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$442
$57.4 $57.4
-59.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$541
$64.3 $64.3
-55.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Hilton, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,076
$44.88 $44.88
27.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$545
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$96.9
$15.51 $15.51
-66.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Hilton, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,897
$1,422 $1,422
-85.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$74.1K
$25.0K $25.0K
-84.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Hilton, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$818
$59.9 $59.9
-27.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$782
$44.18 $44.18
-6.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,400
$98.4 $98.4
-24.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,684
$126 $126
-28.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Hilton, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.5K
$1,577 $1,577
-37.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,184
$1,375 $1,375
-72.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$32.2K
$2,308 $2,308
-25.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.3K
$2,146 $2,146
-49.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$74.4K
$2,960 $2,960
33.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$116.2K
$2,602 $2,602
136.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Hilton, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
6.57
74.28%

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 Hilton, NY: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Hilton, NY
$1.4K 261% $994
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Hilton, NY
$402 57.9% $148
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Hilton, NY
$332 64.3% $130
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Hilton, NY
$329 141% $192
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Hilton, NY
$148 32.1% $36
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Hilton, NY
$76 12.7% $8.6
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Hilton, NY
$82 62.7% $32

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,577 in Hilton, NY. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $66 in Hilton, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $402 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇺🇸 Hilton, NY
🕒 Local time
01:25 1:25 AM
02:25 2:25 AM
1 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
6,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 30, 2026: 1 USD = 18.86 MXN (100 MXN = 5.3 USD). 1 EUR = 21.02 MXN (100 MXN = 4.76 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 30, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.897 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Hilton, NY 2,660 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Hilton, NY

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 Hilton, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Hilton, NY?
Hilton, NY costs about 128% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 and in Hilton, NY?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,806 per month in Playa del Carmen and $4,116 in Hilton, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Hilton, NY?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $980 there versus $1,577 in Hilton, NY.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Hilton, NY?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen and $66 in Hilton, NY. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Hilton, NY?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,204 in Playa del Carmen and $2,744 in Hilton, NY. That makes Playa del Carmen about 56% cheaper.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or in Hilton, NY?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Hilton, NY at $2,744. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hilton, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
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 more affordable for expats?
For expats, Playa del Carmen is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 56% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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