😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $338 in Hospet.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,126 in Playa del Carmen versus $540 in Hospet.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,980 in Playa del Carmen versus $742 in Hospet.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 275% more expensive than Hospet, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen5% lower, Hospet75% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Hospet
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$204
$1.79₹170
563.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$736
$8.51₹809
404.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$183
$2.55₹243
317.65%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.2
$1.76₹167
96.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.81
$0.34₹31.97
341.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.28
$0.14₹12.91
578.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$51.9
$1.48₹141
104.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.1
$2.30₹219
100.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Hospet
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.61
$0.59₹56.0
133.90%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.70
$0.51₹48.25
262.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.65
$0.86₹81.7
87.21%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.51
$0.96₹91.1
169.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$142
$6.36₹605
29.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$144
$3.56₹339
135.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$183
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.12
$1.90₹180
38.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.53
$0.56₹53.5
166.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.94
$0.56₹52.9
242.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.81
$0.39₹37.14
435.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$31.88
$0.50₹47.66
272.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.81
$0.53₹50.8
326.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.23
$0.47₹45.14
125.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.67
$0.32₹30.69
240.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.2
$3.85₹366
7.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$178
$3.20₹305
224.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.59
$1.43₹136
20.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$44.85
$2.11₹201
23.70%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$6.79₹646
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Hospet
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.30
$0.30₹28.89
80.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$462
$8.56₹814
214.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$53.7
$0.68₹65.1
360.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.09
$0.35₹33.69
617.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.1
$2.27₹216
38.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$21.88
$1.19₹113
6.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$521.3K
$9,280₹882.5K
227.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$404.5K
$14.1K₹1.3M
67.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Hospet
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,425
$34.68₹3,298
139.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$390
$2.16₹205
951.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$506
$10.12₹963
191.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Hospet
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$875
$16.22₹1,542
214.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$315
$6.96₹662
163.36%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$84.5
$2.57₹244
91.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Hospet
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,386
$35.16₹3,344
461.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$90.6K
$3,346₹318.2K
57.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Hospet
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$633
$28.16₹2,678
31.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$685
$30.10₹2,862
32.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,373
$35.27₹3,355
126.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,536
$29.19₹2,776
206.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Hospet
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.4K
$79.1₹7,518
1109.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,189
$53.9₹5,125
785.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.3K
$203₹19.3K
710.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.0K
$142₹13.5K
764.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.2K
$985₹93.7K
297.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$110.9K
$522₹49.7K
1136.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Hospet
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.4K
$166₹15.8K
301.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
9.19
24.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Last update for Hospet: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $956 in Playa del Carmen and $79.1 in Hospet. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 301% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $9.00 in Hospet for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $98.0 per month, with Hospet cheaper across the board.
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 Hospet: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and Hospet?
Playa del Carmen and Hospet differ by about 275% in total monthly costs ($1,271 vs $338 including rent). Hospet is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Playa del Carmen or Hospet?
Playa del Carmen pays 301% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Hospet?
Rent for a central apartment: $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $79.1 in Hospet. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Playa del Carmen and Hospet?
A monthly transit pass in Hospet runs roughly 215% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Hospet?
Childcare runs $197 in Playa del Carmen versus $35.16 in Hospet. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $338 in Hospet versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Hospet but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Hospet the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Hospet?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Hospet?
Expats usually find Hospet gentler on the wallet – expenses run 275% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared