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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,333 in Hope, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,388 in Hope, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,444 in Hope, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 46% cheaper than Hope, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Hope is 75% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Hope
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$209
$14.78 CA$20.79
-18.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78 MX$728
$52.0 CA$73.2
-19.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.75 MX$187
$9.06 CA$12.74
18.65%
Cappuccino
$3.50 MX$60.9
$4.12 CA$5.80
-15.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.22
$1.46 CA$2.05
-0.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 MX$15.41
$1.34 CA$1.88
-34.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.3
$4.85 CA$6.82
-39.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51 MX$78.6
$5.45 CA$7.67
-17.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Hope
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$2.23 CA$3.13
-35.87%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 MX$31.99
$2.68 CA$3.77
-31.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$27.31
$4.68 CA$6.58
-66.45%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.74
$3.26 CA$4.59
-23.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.28 MX$144
$12.61 CA$17.74
-34.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 MX$147
$13.54 CA$19.05
-37.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.68 MX$186
$20.42 CA$28.74
-47.70%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 MX$45.43
$4.39 CA$6.18
-40.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$25.04
$1.68 CA$2.37
-14.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 MX$34.16
$4.47 CA$6.28
-56.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$36.47
$4.26 CA$6.00
-50.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$32.24
$2.92 CA$4.11
-36.64%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.74
$4.04 CA$5.68
-46.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 MX$17.96
$2.89 CA$4.07
-64.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.70
$1.88 CA$2.64
-43.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10 MX$71.4
$14.89 CA$20.95
-72.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.17 MX$177
$12.91 CA$18.17
-21.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$29.17
$2.42 CA$3.41
-30.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 MX$43.98
$2.62 CA$3.69
-3.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Hope
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.87
$2.41 CA$3.39
-78.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.04 MX$453
$63.8 CA$89.8
-59.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.3
$3.30 CA$4.64
-2.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.41 MX$41.88
$1.93 CA$2.72
24.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.2
$25.91 CA$36.46
-87.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$23.00
$1.42 CA$1.99
-7.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K MX$517.1K
$25.2K CA$35.4K
17.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K MX$412.0K
$20.1K CA$28.2K
17.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Hope
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,428
$133 CA$187
-38.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95 MX$400
$44.32 CA$62.4
-48.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11 MX$524
$54.8 CA$77.0
-45.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Hope
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$905
$41.47 CA$58.4
25.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53 MX$323
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.98 MX$86.6
$16.36 CA$23.02
-69.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Hope
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,438
$710 CA$1,000
-72.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,336 MX$92.9K
$11.9K CA$16.8K
-55.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Hope
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60 MX$620
$54.2 CA$76.3
-34.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33 MX$702
$47.56 CA$66.9
-15.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 MX$1,371
$73.3 CA$103
7.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,549
$73.1 CA$103
21.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Hope
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$947 MX$16.5K
$1,337 CA$1,882
-29.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,254
$1,177 CA$1,656
-59.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,644 MX$28.6K
$2,031 CA$2,857
-19.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,211 MX$21.1K
$1,816 CA$2,555
-33.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,056 MX$70.6K
$4,264 CA$6,000
-4.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,470 MX$112.7K
$3,575 CA$5,030
80.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Hope
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 MX$11.4K
$2,936 CA$4,131
-77.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
5.8
96.90%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Last update for Hope: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,337 in Hope. 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 349% higher in Hope, 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 $52.0 in Hope. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $413 – 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 Hope: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and in Hope compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, $2,333 in Hope – roughly 86% apart. Hope costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Hope?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,499 in Hope. 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 Hope?
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 restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $52.0 in Hope. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Hope?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $2,333 in Hope. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
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 $1,256, than in Hope at $2,333. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hope it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Hope?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,256 in Playa del Carmen to $2,333 in Hope. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Playa del Carmen or Hope 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 Hope?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hope makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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