Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Hiroshima Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Hiroshima

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,033 in Hiroshima, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,639 in Hiroshima, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,244 in Hiroshima, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 25% more than Hiroshima, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Hiroshima are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Hiroshima 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Hiroshima
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$6.10 ¥976
92.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$721
$34.44 ¥5,508
20.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$4.76 ¥762
123.53%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$61.0
$2.98 ¥477
18.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.17
$1.11 ¥177
36.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.87
$0.75 ¥120
29.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.1
$2.78 ¥445
6.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.2
$4.21 ¥673
5.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Hiroshima
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.97
$1.51 ¥242
-8.61%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.78
$1.42 ¥227
33.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.37
$4.65 ¥745
-64.73%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.42
$2.18 ¥349
15.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$5.57 ¥890
49.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$6.38 ¥1,021
30.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
$12.10 ¥1,935
-11.32%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.12
$3.55 ¥568
-26.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.25
$2.16 ¥346
-32.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.94
$4.18 ¥669
-54.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.98
$4.24 ¥679
-50.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.77
$1.65 ¥264
7.88%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.87
$3.97 ¥635
-44.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$18.02
$1.34 ¥214
-22.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.66
$0.82 ¥132
31.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.7
$3.84 ¥614
6.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$179
$7.66 ¥1,225
34.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.67
$2.03 ¥325
-15.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.63
$2.60 ¥417
-0.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Hiroshima
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.83
$2.12 ¥339
-75.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$459
$24.20 ¥3,871
9.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.5
$4.60 ¥736
-29.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.17
$1.28 ¥205
94.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.3
$23.22 ¥3,714
-86.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.65
$1.19 ¥191
10.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$524.7K
$23.3K ¥3.7M
29.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$406.0K
$17.1K ¥2.7M
37.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Hiroshima
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,436
$132 ¥21.2K
-37.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$385
$26.82 ¥4,290
-17.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$508
$30.18 ¥4,828
-2.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Hiroshima
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$895
$55.2 ¥8,821
-6.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
$5.61 ¥898
226.56%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.8
$12.29 ¥1,966
-58.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Hiroshima
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,480
$175 ¥28.0K
14.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.3K
$3,684 ¥589.3K
41.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Hiroshima
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$640
$30.65 ¥4,902
20.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$689
$27.85 ¥4,454
42.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,360
$52.4 ¥8,387
49.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,509
$67.9 ¥10.9K
28.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Hiroshima
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.9K
$352 ¥56.3K
176.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,105
$243 ¥38.9K
92.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$768 ¥122.8K
113.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.2K
$541 ¥86.5K
125.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.4K
$1,959 ¥313.4K
101.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.6K
$1,643 ¥262.7K
295.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Hiroshima
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
$2,415 ¥386.3K
-72.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
1.81
530.94%

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 Hiroshima: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $352 in Hiroshima. 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 264% higher in Hiroshima, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $34.00 in Hiroshima. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Playa del Carmen vs $269 in Hiroshima – 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 Hiroshima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Hiroshima?
Playa del Carmen costs about 25% more than Hiroshima, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Hiroshima?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,550 in Hiroshima. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Hiroshima?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Hiroshima, 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 Hiroshima?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $1,033 in Hiroshima. 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 Hiroshima?
Public transport costs about 9% less in Hiroshima. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or Hiroshima?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Hiroshima, where all-in costs run around $1,033, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Hiroshima it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Hiroshima?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Hiroshima costs $1,033 versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Hiroshima?
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.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or Hiroshima?
If budget matters most, go with Hiroshima. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities