🙂A single person spends $1,262 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,320 in Hope, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,158 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,335 in Hope, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,054 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,350 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 72% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Hope
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61MX$201
$14.97CA$20.51
-22.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$742
$51.1CA$70.0
-16.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.60MX$184
$9.30CA$12.74
13.98%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.3
$4.20CA$5.76
-14.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.21
$1.49CA$2.05
-2.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90MX$15.58
$1.27CA$1.74
-29.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$4.83CA$6.61
-37.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56MX$79.2
$5.59CA$7.66
-18.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Hope
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45MX$25.20
$2.14CA$2.93
-32.24%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83MX$31.72
$2.76CA$3.78
-33.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.92
$4.51CA$6.18
-64.30%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.05
$3.32CA$4.54
-23.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.54MX$148
$12.80CA$17.53
-33.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.47MX$147
$13.11CA$17.96
-35.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$189
$20.10CA$27.54
-45.97%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.37
$4.49CA$6.15
-39.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.91
$1.69CA$2.31
-11.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94MX$33.73
$4.48CA$6.14
-56.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.57
$4.28CA$5.86
-49.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.05
$3.06CA$4.19
-39.54%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.00
$4.09CA$5.60
-46.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.62
$2.92CA$4.01
-63.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.81
$1.98CA$2.71
-45.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06MX$70.5
$15.01CA$20.57
-72.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.46MX$182
$13.10CA$17.94
-20.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65MX$28.71
$2.45CA$3.36
-32.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55MX$44.23
$2.59CA$3.55
-1.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Hope
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MX$9.65
$2.40CA$3.29
-76.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.20MX$455
$63.5CA$87.0
-58.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$54.5
$3.37CA$4.62
-6.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.37MX$41.17
$1.82CA$2.50
30.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.2
$25.43CA$34.84
-87.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.81
$1.41CA$1.93
-7.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5KMX$530.2K
$25.1KCA$34.4K
21.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$413.6K
$20.4KCA$27.9K
17.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Hope
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.1MX$1,443
$137CA$188
-39.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15MX$385
$44.02CA$60.3
-49.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37MX$510
$56.6CA$77.5
-48.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Hope
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.2MX$889
$41.78CA$57.2
22.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69MX$324
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.89MX$84.9
$16.46CA$22.55
-70.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Hope
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$199MX$3,449
$699CA$957
-71.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,207MX$90.4K
$11.8KCA$16.1K
-55.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Hope
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93MX$624
$54.6CA$74.8
-34.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39MX$684
$47.84CA$65.5
-17.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.3MX$1,394
$72.2CA$98.9
11.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6MX$1,520
$73.1CA$100
19.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Hope
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.7K
$1,317CA$1,805
-26.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482MX$8,370
$1,179CA$1,616
-59.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,645MX$28.6K
$1,995CA$2,733
-17.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,192MX$20.7K
$1,823CA$2,498
-34.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,957MX$68.7K
$4,407CA$6,038
-10.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,513MX$113.1K
$3,622CA$4,963
79.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Hope
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$726MX$12.6K
$3,078CA$4,216
-76.40%
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: April 12, 2026
Last update for Hope: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,317 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 324% 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 $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $51 in Hope. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 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 Hope compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,262 in Playa del Carmen, $2,320 in Hope – roughly 84% 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 $1,894 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,480 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen and $51.0 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 $1,262 in Playa del Carmen and $2,320 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 $1,262, than in Hope at $2,320. 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 $1,262 in Playa del Carmen to $2,320 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared