Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Kaneohe, HI Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Kaneohe, HI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,773 in Kaneohe, HI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,126 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,045 in Kaneohe, HI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,980 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,317 in Kaneohe, HI.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 54% less than in Kaneohe, HI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 5% below, Kaneohe, HI is 106% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kaneohe, HI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87 MX$207
$19.82 $19.82
-40.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90 MX$749
$55.4 $55.4
-22.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.65 MX$186
$10.46 $10.46
1.82%
Cappuccino
$3.45 MX$60.2
$5.66 $5.66
-39.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 MX$26.24
$1.84 $1.84
-18.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 MX$16.56
$2.49 $2.49
-61.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$52.8
$6.92 $6.92
-56.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 MX$80.4
$5.95 $5.95
-22.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kaneohe, HI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$24.01
$2.10 $2.10
-34.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$32.24
$5.61 $5.61
-67.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$28.11
$6.81 $6.81
-76.36%
Eggs
$2.59 MX$45.26
$7.53 $7.53
-65.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.26 MX$144
$12.03 $12.03
-31.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.37 MX$146
$11.22 $11.22
-25.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.66 MX$186
$17.36 $17.36
-38.59%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 MX$45.89
$7.04 $7.04
-62.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.96
$1.58 $1.58
-5.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 MX$33.50
$6.29 $6.29
-69.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$36.41
$8.16 $8.16
-74.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.42
$3.97 $3.97
-53.15%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 MX$39.47
$4.58 $4.58
-50.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 MX$18.54
$3.02 $3.02
-64.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.98
$3.03 $3.03
-64.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15 MX$72.4
$8.43 $8.43
-50.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.39 MX$181
$6.85 $6.85
51.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$30.09
$2.50 $2.50
-31.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$45.60
$5.72 $5.72
-54.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kaneohe, HI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.46
$1.99 $1.99
-72.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.94 MX$470
$39.59 $39.59
-31.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$54.6
$3.52 $3.52
-11.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.51 MX$43.82
$2.69 $2.69
-6.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.15 MX$55.0
$45.06 $45.06
-93.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$22.25
$1.28 $1.28
-0.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K MX$530.1K
$30.4K $30.4K
-0.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K MX$411.3K
$24.6K $24.6K
-4.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kaneohe, HI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 MX$1,449
$231 $231
-64.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71 MX$396
$65.6 $65.6
-65.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46 MX$514
$66.7 $66.7
-55.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kaneohe, HI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 MX$890
$43.59 $43.59
17.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33 MX$320
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.93 MX$86.0
$15.97 $15.97
-69.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kaneohe, HI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,444
$884 $884
-77.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,280 MX$92.1K
$20.1K $20.1K
-73.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kaneohe, HI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90 MX$644
$57.4 $57.4
-35.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89 MX$696
$59.9 $59.9
-33.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.0 MX$1,396
$107 $107
-24.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5 MX$1,561
$110 $110
-18.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kaneohe, HI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$956 MX$16.7K
$1,622 $1,622
-41.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$477 MX$8,327
$1,358 $1,358
-64.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,646 MX$28.7K
$2,617 $2,617
-37.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,225 MX$21.4K
$2,251 $2,251
-45.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,918 MX$68.4K
$2,638 $2,638
48.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,459 MX$112.7K
$2,072 $2,072
211.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kaneohe, HI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$667 MX$11.6K
$4,424 $4,424
-84.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
5.5
107.64%

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 Kaneohe, HI: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $956 in Playa del Carmen and $1,622 in Kaneohe, HI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kaneohe, HI pays 563% 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 $55.0 in Kaneohe, HI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $497 per month, with Playa del Carmen 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 Kaneohe, HI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Kaneohe, HI?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 118% lower than in Kaneohe, HI. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or Kaneohe, HI?
On paper, Kaneohe, HI earns 563% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen vs Kaneohe, HI?
Rent for a central apartment: $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,622 in Kaneohe, HI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or Kaneohe, HI?
Supermarket bills run roughly 99% higher in Kaneohe, HI. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen vs Kaneohe, HI?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $55.0 in Kaneohe, HI. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or Kaneohe, HI?
At $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,773 in Kaneohe, HI, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Kaneohe, HI. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Kaneohe, HI?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,271 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Kaneohe, HI?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Kaneohe, HI 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 118% less than in Kaneohe, HI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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