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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $125 in Huánuco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $216 in Huánuco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $307 in Huánuco.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 930% more expensive than Huánuco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Huánuco 91% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Huánuco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94 MX$209
$3.42 PEN 12.05
249.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$748
$17.82 PEN 62.7
139.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 MX$185
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.62 MX$63.4
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.69
$0.79 PEN 2.78
86.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 MX$16.51
$0.53 PEN 1.88
77.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$54.1
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 MX$78.0
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Huánuco
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.97
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.50
-
-
Eggs
$2.64 MX$46.26
$1.54 PEN 5.41
71.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 MX$144
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.10 MX$194
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 MX$46.40
$2.41 PEN 8.49
9.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$26.26
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.79
$0.55 PEN 1.93
261.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.33
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.29
$0.58 PEN 2.05
208.62%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.09
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.84
$0.29 PEN 1.03
272.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 MX$18.15
$0.58 PEN 2.04
79.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 MX$69.5
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$10.20 MX$179
$6.45 PEN 22.71
58.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.22
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 MX$43.71
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Huánuco
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.07
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.97 MX$472
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$55.0
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$42.04
$0.53 PEN 1.86
352.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 MX$54.0
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$22.28
$1.35 PEN 4.76
-5.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K MX$540.4K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$408.0K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Huánuco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,435
$24.89 PEN 87.6
229.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45 MX$393
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66 MX$519
$19.38 PEN 68.2
53.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Huánuco
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.9 MX$908
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67 MX$327
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 MX$87.0
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Huánuco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,462
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,273 MX$92.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Huánuco
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34 MX$636
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05 MX$701
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 MX$1,398
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,555
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Huánuco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,133
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,596 MX$27.9K
$198 PEN 697
705.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 MX$21.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,942 MX$69.0K
$1,377 PEN 4,848
186.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,448 MX$112.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Huánuco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$720 MX$12.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
0
-

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Last update for Huánuco: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $18.00 in Huánuco for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $43.00 per month, with Huánuco 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 Huánuco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Huánuco cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Huánuco is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 930% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,930 in Playa del Carmen and $187 in Huánuco to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Huánuco?
Supermarket bills run roughly 480% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or Huánuco?
Dining out is cheaper in Huánuco – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Huánuco?
At $125 in Huánuco versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Huánuco but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Huánuco the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Huánuco more family-friendly?
For families, Huánuco is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Huánuco?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Huánuco are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Huánuco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 930% 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

Similar cities