🙂A single person spends $897 per month in Tegucigalpa vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,437 per month in Tegucigalpa vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,977 per month in Tegucigalpa vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Tegucigalpa is about 29% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tegucigalpa and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Tegucigalpa33% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tegucigalpa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.89HNL 157
$11.99MX$210
-50.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.29HNL 997
$41.78MX$733
-10.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.75HNL 207
$10.75MX$189
-27.91%
Cappuccino
$2.30HNL 61.4
$3.50MX$61.3
-34.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02HNL 27.21
$1.45MX$25.41
-29.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17HNL 31.15
$0.88MX$15.52
32.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.12HNL 29.93
$2.95MX$51.7
-62.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65HNL 70.7
$4.51MX$79.1
-41.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tegucigalpa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43HNL 38.36
$1.43MX$25.12
-
White Bread(500g)
$2.09HNL 55.8
$1.84MX$32.23
13.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.24HNL 33.09
$1.57MX$27.51
-21.02%
Eggs
$2.10HNL 56.1
$2.51MX$44.06
-16.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.02HNL 161
$8.28MX$145
-27.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.74HNL 100
$8.43MX$148
-55.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.13HNL 217
$10.68MX$187
-23.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95HNL 78.9
$2.61MX$45.76
13.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46HNL 39.01
$1.44MX$25.22
1.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50HNL 40.09
$1.96MX$34.41
-23.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.51HNL 40.37
$2.09MX$36.74
-27.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.66HNL 44.37
$1.85MX$32.47
-10.27%
Onion(1kg)
$1.40HNL 37.56
$2.17MX$38.02
-35.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.82HNL 21.85
$1.03MX$18.09
-20.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.70HNL 45.48
$1.07MX$18.84
58.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.46HNL 65.8
$4.10MX$72.0
-40.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.28HNL 248
$10.17MX$178
-8.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33HNL 35.60
$1.68MX$29.38
-20.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84HNL 49.12
$2.53MX$44.31
-27.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Tegucigalpa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.57HNL 41.85
$0.51MX$8.93
207.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.04MX$457
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.15HNL 111
$3.23MX$56.7
28.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.10HNL 82.8
$2.41MX$42.19
28.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.23MX$56.6
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.06HNL 28.39
$1.32MX$23.17
-19.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KHNL 504.4K
$29.7KMX$520.9K
-36.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.9KHNL 505.2K
$23.7KMX$415.0K
-20.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tegucigalpa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8HNL 2,159
$82.0MX$1,439
-1.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.97HNL 240
$22.95MX$403
-60.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.78HNL 1,090
$30.11MX$528
35.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tegucigalpa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.58HNL 978
$52.0MX$912
-29.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.53HNL 415
$18.53MX$325
-16.19%
Cinema Ticket
$5.63HNL 151
$4.98MX$87.3
13.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tegucigalpa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$249HNL 6,650
$197MX$3,463
25.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,336MX$93.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tegucigalpa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.74HNL 1,249
$35.60MX$624
31.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.17HNL 940
$40.33MX$707
-12.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111HNL 2,967
$78.8MX$1,381
40.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102HNL 2,728
$88.9MX$1,560
14.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tegucigalpa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$287HNL 7,676
$947MX$16.6K
-69.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$233HNL 6,216
$474MX$8,314
-50.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$580HNL 15.5K
$1,644MX$28.8K
-64.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$460HNL 12.3K
$1,211MX$21.2K
-62.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,680HNL 71.7K
$4,056MX$71.1K
-33.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,590HNL 42.5K
$6,470MX$113.5K
-75.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tegucigalpa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$518HNL 13.9K
$654MX$11.5K
-20.74%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $287 in Tegucigalpa 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 26% 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 $37.00 in Tegucigalpa versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $207 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 40%, 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 $1,345 per month in Tegucigalpa 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 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $897 in Tegucigalpa 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 kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $249 per month in Tegucigalpa and $197 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 living in Tegucigalpa or in Playa del Carmen?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tegucigalpa, where all-in costs run around $897, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. 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