๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,294 in Playa del Carmen versus $112 in Huรกnuco.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,189 in Playa del Carmen versus $200 in Huรกnuco.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,084 in Playa del Carmen versus $288 in Huรกnuco.
๐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 1054% more expensive than Huรกnuco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen3% lower, Huรกnuco92% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Huรกnuco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$202
$3.54PENย 12.08
231.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$719
$17.69PENย 60.3
136.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.41MX$179
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.1
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46MX$25.06
$0.86PENย 2.92
69.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.70
$0.54PENย 1.82
79.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92MX$50.3
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62MX$79.5
-
-
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Huรกnuco
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.59
-
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.90MX$32.70
-
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$26.95
-
-
Eggs
$2.64MX$45.34
$1.59PENย 5.42
66.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.44MX$145
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.58MX$148
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.00MX$189
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.70MX$46.51
$2.42PENย 8.25
11.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$25.92
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.91MX$32.93
$0.54PENย 1.83
253.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.37
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.25
$0.54PENย 1.85
246.30%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.43
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.60
$0.29PENย 1.00
272.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.47
$0.59PENย 2.00
81.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16MX$71.6
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$10.29MX$177
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.95
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.59
-
-
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Huรกnuco
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55MX$9.53
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.29MX$452
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.20MX$55.0
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.37
$0.51PENย 1.75
382.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.20MX$55.0
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$22.72
$1.33PENย 4.54
-0.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$518.8K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$402.5K
-
-
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Huรกnuco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.4MX$1,400
$24.66PENย 84.1
229.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.41MX$386
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.97MX$516
$19.06PENย 65.0
57.24%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Huรกnuco
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$887
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$316
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.16MX$88.9
-
-
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Huรกnuco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$202MX$3,471
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,311MX$91.4K
-
-
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Huรกnuco
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.61MX$613
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.37MX$695
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.6MX$1,353
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.9MX$1,495
-
-
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Huรกnuco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$950MX$16.3K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$478MX$8,227
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621MX$27.9K
$195PENย 665
730.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,009MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,473MX$111.4K
-
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Huรกnuco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673MX$11.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026
Last update for Huรกnuco: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $18.00 in Huรกnuco for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $254 vs $30.00 per month, with Huรกnuco 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 Huรกnuco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Huรกnuco cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Huรกnuco is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 1054% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,941 in Playa del Carmen and $168 in Huรกnuco 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 Huรกnuco?
Supermarket bills run roughly 733% 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 Huรกnuco?
Dining out is cheaper in Huรกnuco โ a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $42.00 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 Huรกnuco?
At $112 in Huรกnuco versus $1,294 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Huรกnuco but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Huรกnuco the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Huรกnuco more family-friendly?
For families, Huรกnuco 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 Huรกnuco?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Huรกnuco 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 Huรกnuco gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 1054% 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