🙂A single person spends $886 per month in Tegucigalpa vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Tegucigalpa vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,975 per month in Tegucigalpa vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Tegucigalpa is about 32% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tegucigalpa and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Tegucigalpa34% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tegucigalpa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.72HNL 152
$11.73MX$203
-51.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.08HNL 1,014
$41.62MX$720
-8.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.54HNL 201
$10.64MX$184
-29.14%
Cappuccino
$2.29HNL 61.0
$3.52MX$60.9
-34.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95HNL 25.23
$1.51MX$26.12
-37.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14HNL 30.23
$0.97MX$16.84
17.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.14HNL 30.35
$2.95MX$51.0
-61.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71HNL 72.2
$4.45MX$77.0
-39.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tegucigalpa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40HNL 37.25
$1.38MX$23.93
1.45%
White Bread(500g)
$2.15HNL 57.4
$1.89MX$32.72
13.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.27HNL 33.70
$1.64MX$28.32
-22.56%
Eggs
$2.11HNL 56.1
$2.51MX$43.34
-15.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.97HNL 159
$8.34MX$144
-28.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.76HNL 100
$8.34MX$144
-54.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.02HNL 213
$10.73MX$186
-25.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.90HNL 77.3
$2.60MX$45.04
11.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47HNL 39.04
$1.46MX$25.20
0.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.44HNL 38.25
$1.90MX$32.87
-24.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59HNL 42.43
$2.08MX$35.91
-23.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.64HNL 43.76
$1.78MX$30.71
-7.87%
Onion(1kg)
$1.35HNL 35.86
$2.19MX$37.80
-38.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90HNL 23.87
$1.04MX$17.99
-13.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.72HNL 45.73
$1.08MX$18.62
59.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44HNL 65.0
$4.08MX$70.6
-40.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.66HNL 257
$10.32MX$178
-6.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34HNL 35.56
$1.71MX$29.61
-21.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77HNL 47.22
$2.58MX$44.54
-31.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Tegucigalpa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.50HNL 40.08
$0.51MX$8.81
194.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.46MX$458
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.17HNL 111
$3.26MX$56.4
27.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.20HNL 85.1
$2.49MX$43.09
28.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.25MX$56.2
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.02HNL 27.20
$1.31MX$22.61
-22.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6KHNL 520.7K
$30.3KMX$523.7K
-35.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.0KHNL 505.7K
$23.4KMX$405.3K
-18.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tegucigalpa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.8HNL 2,179
$82.9MX$1,433
-1.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.89HNL 237
$22.22MX$384
-59.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.08HNL 1,094
$29.34MX$507
40.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tegucigalpa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.59HNL 974
$51.6MX$893
-29.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.15HNL 404
$18.32MX$317
-17.30%
Cinema Ticket
$5.73HNL 153
$5.07MX$87.6
13.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tegucigalpa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$251HNL 6,683
$201MX$3,473
24.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,212MX$90.1K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tegucigalpa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.24HNL 1,205
$36.92MX$639
22.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.93HNL 957
$39.79MX$688
-9.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107HNL 2,862
$78.5MX$1,357
36.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102HNL 2,722
$87.1MX$1,506
17.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tegucigalpa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$278HNL 7,416
$973MX$16.8K
-71.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239HNL 6,353
$468MX$8,090
-48.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$576HNL 15.3K
$1,641MX$28.4K
-64.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$469HNL 12.5K
$1,221MX$21.1K
-61.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,760HNL 73.5K
$3,946MX$68.3K
-30.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,566HNL 41.7K
$6,498MX$112.4K
-75.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tegucigalpa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$516HNL 13.7K
$664MX$11.5K
-22.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12
11.42
5.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tegucigalpa: May 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $278 in Tegucigalpa versus $973 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 29% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $38.00 in Tegucigalpa versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $208 vs $249 – making Tegucigalpa 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
Tegucigalpa vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Tegucigalpa?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 46%, 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 $1,329 per month in Tegucigalpa and $1,945 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 Tegucigalpa, 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 Tegucigalpa vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $886 in Tegucigalpa and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $251 per month in Tegucigalpa and $201 in Playa del Carmen. 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 Tegucigalpa or Playa del Carmen?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tegucigalpa, where all-in costs run around $886, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Tegucigalpa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tegucigalpa or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tegucigalpa – 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 Tegucigalpa. 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.
Tegucigalpa vs other spots: cost of living compared