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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $574 in Juticalpa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $948 in Juticalpa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,322 in Juticalpa.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 126% more expensive than Juticalpa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Juticalpa 57% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Juticalpa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$5.68 HNL 151
106.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$721
$37.32 HNL 994
11.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$7.50 HNL 200
41.87%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$61.0
$2.35 HNL 62.7
49.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.17
$1.00 HNL 26.65
51.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.87
$1.17 HNL 31.06
-17.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.1
$1.17 HNL 31.13
152.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.2
$2.63 HNL 70.0
69.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Juticalpa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.97
$1.45 HNL 38.59
-4.83%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.78
$2.07 HNL 55.2
-8.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.37
$1.27 HNL 33.93
29.13%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.42
$2.10 HNL 56.0
19.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$6.08 HNL 162
37.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$3.74 HNL 99.5
122.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
$7.94 HNL 212
35.14%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.12
$2.90 HNL 77.2
-10.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.25
$1.50 HNL 39.86
-2.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.94
$1.51 HNL 40.28
25.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.98
$1.53 HNL 40.77
35.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.77
$1.67 HNL 44.43
6.59%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.87
$1.40 HNL 37.18
56.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$18.02
$0.82 HNL 21.94
26.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.66
$1.71 HNL 45.52
-36.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.7
$2.52 HNL 67.1
61.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$179
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.67
$1.31 HNL 34.84
30.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.63
$1.79 HNL 47.66
44.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Juticalpa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.83
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$459
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.5
$4.35 HNL 116
-25.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.17
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.3
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.65
$1.03 HNL 27.33
27.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$524.7K
$19.6K HNL 520.8K
54.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$406.0K
$19.0K HNL 507.4K
23.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Juticalpa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,436
$83.1 HNL 2,214
-0.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$385
$8.84 HNL 236
151.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$508
$41.75 HNL 1,112
-29.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Juticalpa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$895
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.8
$5.83 HNL 155
-13.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Juticalpa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,480
$245 HNL 6,526
-18.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Juticalpa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$640
$45.25 HNL 1,205
-18.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$689
$35.47 HNL 945
12.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,360
$111 HNL 2,955
-29.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,509
$100 HNL 2,675
-13.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Juticalpa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,105
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Juticalpa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
12
-4.83%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Juticalpa: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $37.00 in Juticalpa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $188 per month, with Juticalpa 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 Juticalpa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and Juticalpa?
Playa del Carmen and Juticalpa differ by about 126% in total monthly costs ($1,297 vs $574 including rent). Juticalpa is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Juticalpa?
You'd need roughly $1,945 in Playa del Carmen and $861 in Juticalpa 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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 32% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Juticalpa?
All in, you'll spend $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $574 in Juticalpa – a 126% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $574 in Juticalpa versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Juticalpa but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Juticalpa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Juticalpa?
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.
Is Playa del Carmen or Juticalpa safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Juticalpa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Juticalpa?
Expats usually find Juticalpa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 126% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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