🙂A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,298 in Hiratsuka, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,024 in Hiratsuka, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,749 in Hiratsuka, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen and Hiratsuka have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Hiratsuka are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen3% lower, Hiratsuka3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Hiratsuka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$5.60¥895
109.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$721
$20.44¥3,269
103.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$4.07¥652
161.43%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$61.0
$2.72¥434
29.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.17
$1.20¥192
25.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.87
$0.80¥128
21.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.1
$3.01¥482
-1.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.2
$3.03¥485
46.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Hiratsuka
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.97
$1.54¥246
-10.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.78
$1.81¥290
4.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.37
$5.07¥811
-67.65%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.42
$2.46¥393
2.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$145
$17.46¥2,793
-52.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$145
$7.45¥1,192
11.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$15.30¥2,448
-29.87%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.12
$9.22¥1,474
-71.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.25
$2.87¥459
-49.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.94
$4.99¥798
-61.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.98
$9.99¥1,598
-79.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.77
$3.85¥615
-53.77%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.87
$2.58¥412
-15.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$18.02
$1.37¥219
-24.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.66
$1.44¥230
-25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.7
$3.54¥566
15.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$179
$9.27¥1,483
11.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.67
$2.80¥449
-38.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.63
$2.39¥383
7.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Hiratsuka
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.83
$1.59¥254
-67.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$459
$56.0¥8,949
-52.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.5
$3.54¥566
-7.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.17
$2.91¥466
-14.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.3
$17.02¥2,723
-80.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.65
$1.17¥188
11.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$524.7K
$22.8K¥3.6M
32.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.0K
$17.2K¥2.7M
36.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Hiratsuka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,436
$140¥22.3K
-40.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$385
$27.24¥4,358
-18.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$508
$34.82¥5,570
-15.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Hiratsuka
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$895
$55.4¥8,855
-6.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
$13.67¥2,187
34.02%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.8
$12.41¥1,985
-59.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Hiratsuka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,480
$359¥57.4K
-44.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.3K
$11.5K¥1.8M
-54.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Hiratsuka
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$640
$45.94¥7,349
-19.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$689
$31.67¥5,065
25.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,360
$55.4¥8,852
41.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,509
$91.0¥14.5K
-4.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Hiratsuka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.9K
$465¥74.4K
109.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,105
$325¥51.9K
44.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$858¥137.2K
91.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.2K
$646¥103.3K
89.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.4K
$5,093¥814.7K
-22.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.6K
$2,178¥348.3K
198.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Hiratsuka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
1.78
541.57%
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 Hiratsuka: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $465 in Hiratsuka. 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $20.00 in Hiratsuka. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Playa del Carmen vs $409 in Hiratsuka – 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 Hiratsuka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Hiratsuka?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,947 in Hiratsuka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Playa del Carmen and Hiratsuka?
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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 64% more in Hiratsuka, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Hiratsuka?
Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $359 in Hiratsuka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Hiratsuka at $1,298. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hiratsuka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Hiratsuka?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,297 in Playa del Carmen to $1,298 in Hiratsuka. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Playa del Carmen or Hiratsuka safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Hiratsuka?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hiratsuka makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared