Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Hardy and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Hardy and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,349 per month in Port Hardy vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,381 per month in Port Hardy vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,413 per month in Port Hardy vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Port Hardy costs about 87% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Port Hardy sits 76% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Port Hardy
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.77 CA$23.59
$11.99 MX$209
39.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.4 CA$99.0
$41.78 MX$728
68.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.85 CA$15.27
$10.75 MX$187
0.93%
Cappuccino
$3.79 CA$5.34
$3.50 MX$60.9
8.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 CA$2.75
$1.45 MX$25.22
34.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 CA$2.32
$0.88 MX$15.41
87.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.54 CA$7.79
$2.95 MX$51.3
87.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.98 CA$8.42
$4.51 MX$78.6
32.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Port Hardy
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 CA$3.07
$1.43 MX$24.94
52.45%
White Bread (500g)
$2.72 CA$3.83
$1.84 MX$31.99
47.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.52 CA$4.96
$1.57 MX$27.31
124.20%
Eggs
$3.36 CA$4.72
$2.51 MX$43.74
33.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.00 CA$15.47
$8.28 MX$144
32.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.80 CA$16.61
$8.43 MX$147
39.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.67 CA$20.64
$10.68 MX$186
37.36%
Apples (1kg)
$4.11 CA$5.78
$2.61 MX$45.43
57.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 CA$1.99
$1.44 MX$25.04
-2.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.75 CA$5.27
$1.96 MX$34.16
91.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.84 CA$5.40
$2.09 MX$36.47
83.73%
Potato (1kg)
$2.39 CA$3.36
$1.85 MX$32.24
29.19%
Onion (1kg)
$2.55 CA$3.58
$2.17 MX$37.74
17.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.54 CA$3.57
$1.03 MX$17.96
146.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 CA$2.48
$1.07 MX$18.70
64.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.71 CA$19.29
$4.10 MX$71.4
234.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.07 CA$15.57
$10.17 MX$177
8.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.91 CA$4.10
$1.68 MX$29.17
73.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15 CA$4.44
$2.53 MX$43.98
24.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Port Hardy
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.40 CA$3.38
$0.51 MX$8.87
370.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.7 CA$89.7
$26.04 MX$453
144.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.22 CA$4.54
$3.23 MX$56.3
-0.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 CA$2.03
$2.41 MX$41.88
-40.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.99 CA$36.57
$3.23 MX$56.2
704.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 CA$1.62
$1.32 MX$23.00
-12.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K CA$35.0K
$29.7K MX$517.1K
-16.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K CA$29.1K
$23.7K MX$412.0K
-12.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Hardy
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$144 CA$202
$82.0 MX$1,428
75.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.91 CA$61.8
$22.95 MX$400
91.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.4 CA$87.8
$30.11 MX$524
107.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Port Hardy
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.69 CA$60.1
$52.0 MX$905
-17.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.53 MX$323
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.51 CA$16.19
$4.98 MX$86.6
131.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Port Hardy
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$750 CA$1,056
$197 MX$3,438
279.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.0K CA$16.9K
$5,336 MX$92.9K
124.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Port Hardy
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3 CA$76.4
$35.60 MX$620
52.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.58 CA$55.7
$40.33 MX$702
-1.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.9 CA$121
$78.8 MX$1,371
9.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 CA$149
$88.9 MX$1,549
18.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Port Hardy
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,309 CA$1,842
$947 MX$16.5K
38.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,163 CA$1,637
$474 MX$8,254
145.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,005 CA$2,822
$1,644 MX$28.6K
21.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,825 CA$2,568
$1,211 MX$21.1K
50.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,239 CA$5,964
$4,056 MX$70.6K
4.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,192 CA$4,492
$6,470 MX$112.7K
-50.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Port Hardy
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,205 CA$4,510
$654 MX$11.4K
390.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.46
11.42
-43.43%

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

Last update for Port Hardy: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,309 in Port Hardy versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 390% higher in Port Hardy, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Port Hardy versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $362 vs $249 – making Playa del Carmen 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
Port Hardy vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Port Hardy?
Yes – Port Hardy is pricier by about 87%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $3,523 per month in Port Hardy and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Port Hardy and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,349 in Port Hardy and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 145% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Port Hardy or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Port Hardy at $2,349. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port Hardy it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Port Hardy or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Port Hardy or Playa del Carmen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Port Hardy makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Port Hardy vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities