😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $575 in Juticalpa.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $952 in Juticalpa.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,330 in Juticalpa.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 119% more expensive than in Juticalpa, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen6% lower, Juticalpa57% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Juticalpa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$5.63HNL 151
112.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
$37.78HNL 1,010
10.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$7.87HNL 210
36.59%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$2.35HNL 62.7
48.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$0.94HNL 25.06
54.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
$1.16HNL 31.12
-24.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
$1.13HNL 30.23
161.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
$2.67HNL 71.3
68.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Juticalpa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.44HNL 38.42
-0.69%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$2.13HNL 57.0
-13.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
$1.29HNL 34.38
21.71%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$2.03HNL 54.4
23.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$6.12HNL 164
35.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$3.69HNL 98.7
128.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$7.92HNL 212
34.85%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
$2.97HNL 79.5
-12.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
$1.51HNL 40.43
-4.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
$1.44HNL 38.63
36.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
$1.54HNL 41.10
35.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
$1.68HNL 44.82
10.12%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
$1.34HNL 35.95
61.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
$0.84HNL 22.35
22.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$1.72HNL 46.05
-37.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$2.46HNL 65.7
66.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
$1.30HNL 34.73
29.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
$1.85HNL 49.56
36.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Juticalpa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$4.11HNL 110
-21.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$1.04HNL 27.71
26.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
$19.5KHNL 521.8K
52.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$19.5KHNL 521.3K
21.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Juticalpa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$80.7HNL 2,157
1.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
$8.79HNL 235
161.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$40.30HNL 1,077
-25.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Juticalpa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$5.69HNL 152
-12.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Juticalpa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
$250HNL 6,689
-21.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Juticalpa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
$45.21HNL 1,209
-21.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$35.28HNL 943
14.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
$110HNL 2,949
-28.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
$101HNL 2,700
-11.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Juticalpa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Juticalpa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
-
-
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Juticalpa: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $38.00 in Juticalpa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $189 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 in Juticalpa?
Playa del Carmen and Juticalpa differ by about 119% in total monthly costs ($1,256 vs $575 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 $1,884 in Playa del Carmen and $862 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 $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $575 in Juticalpa – a 119% 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 $575 in Juticalpa versus $1,256 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 119% 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