😐A single person spends $1,259 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $580 in Siguatepeque, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,177 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $961 in Siguatepeque, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,095 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,342 in Siguatepeque, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 117% more than Siguatepeque, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Siguatepeque are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen6% lower, Siguatepeque57% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Siguatepeque
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.95MX$209
$5.71HNL 153
109.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.94MX$734
$38.21HNL 1,022
9.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.42MX$182
$7.48HNL 200
39.30%
Cappuccino
$3.51MX$61.5
$2.27HNL 60.8
54.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52MX$26.56
$0.96HNL 25.54
58.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.95
$1.13HNL 30.11
-19.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.04MX$53.2
$1.18HNL 31.58
157.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37MX$76.5
$2.71HNL 72.6
61.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Siguatepeque
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42MX$24.89
$1.45HNL 38.84
-2.07%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83MX$32.07
$2.14HNL 57.2
-14.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.63
$1.27HNL 33.95
28.35%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.48
$2.04HNL 54.7
24.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.57MX$150
$6.14HNL 164
39.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$149
$3.76HNL 100
125.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.80MX$189
$8.01HNL 214
34.83%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75MX$48.25
$2.98HNL 79.8
-7.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.16
$1.50HNL 40.05
-4.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89MX$33.04
$1.50HNL 40.12
26.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17MX$38.01
$1.51HNL 40.42
43.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$31.17
$1.62HNL 43.28
9.88%
Onion(1kg)
$2.22MX$38.96
$1.42HNL 37.95
56.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.72
$0.87HNL 23.28
22.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.91
$1.65HNL 44.25
-34.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$72.6
$2.44HNL 65.3
70.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.45MX$183
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74MX$30.53
$1.35HNL 36.05
28.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$45.21
$1.83HNL 48.99
40.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Siguatepeque
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.99
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.94MX$454
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.21MX$56.2
$4.27HNL 114
-24.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.50MX$43.83
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.19MX$55.8
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$22.01
$1.08HNL 28.78
16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$520.0K
$18.8KHNL 504.0K
57.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$414.8K
$19.1KHNL 509.5K
24.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Siguatepeque
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,437
$83.1HNL 2,222
-1.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.73MX$398
$9.09HNL 243
150.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.42MX$515
$41.34HNL 1,105
-28.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Siguatepeque
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.2MX$914
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.45MX$323
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$86.4
$5.92HNL 158
-16.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Siguatepeque
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$202MX$3,534
$249HNL 6,662
-19.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,217MX$91.4K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Siguatepeque
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93MX$629
$46.87HNL 1,253
-23.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$706
$36.32HNL 971
11.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,399
$107HNL 2,862
-25.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3MX$1,564
$101HNL 2,697
-11.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Siguatepeque
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$948MX$16.6K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,150
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,630MX$28.5K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,193MX$20.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,933MX$68.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,428MX$112.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Siguatepeque
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$658MX$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: July 20, 2026
Last update for Siguatepeque: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $38.00 in Siguatepeque. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $189 – making Siguatepeque the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Siguatepeque: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Siguatepeque cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 117%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,888 per month in Playa del Carmen and $870 in Siguatepeque. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Siguatepeque?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,259 in Playa del Carmen and $580 in Siguatepeque. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $202 per month in Playa del Carmen and $249 in Siguatepeque. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Siguatepeque?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Siguatepeque, where all-in costs run around $580, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,259. In Siguatepeque it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Siguatepeque more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Siguatepeque – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Siguatepeque. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared