Cost of Living Comparison Between Tegucigalpa and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Tegucigalpa and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Tegucigalpa 34% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tegucigalpa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.72 HNL 152
$11.73 MX$203
-51.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.08 HNL 1,014
$41.62 MX$720
-8.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.54 HNL 201
$10.64 MX$184
-29.14%
Cappuccino
$2.29 HNL 61.0
$3.52 MX$60.9
-34.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 HNL 25.23
$1.51 MX$26.12
-37.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 HNL 30.23
$0.97 MX$16.84
17.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.14 HNL 30.35
$2.95 MX$51.0
-61.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 HNL 72.2
$4.45 MX$77.0
-39.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tegucigalpa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 HNL 37.25
$1.38 MX$23.93
1.45%
White Bread (500g)
$2.15 HNL 57.4
$1.89 MX$32.72
13.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.27 HNL 33.70
$1.64 MX$28.32
-22.56%
Eggs
$2.11 HNL 56.1
$2.51 MX$43.34
-15.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.97 HNL 159
$8.34 MX$144
-28.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.76 HNL 100
$8.34 MX$144
-54.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.02 HNL 213
$10.73 MX$186
-25.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 HNL 77.3
$2.60 MX$45.04
11.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 HNL 39.04
$1.46 MX$25.20
0.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.44 HNL 38.25
$1.90 MX$32.87
-24.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 HNL 42.43
$2.08 MX$35.91
-23.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.64 HNL 43.76
$1.78 MX$30.71
-7.87%
Onion (1kg)
$1.35 HNL 35.86
$2.19 MX$37.80
-38.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 HNL 23.87
$1.04 MX$17.99
-13.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 HNL 45.73
$1.08 MX$18.62
59.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44 HNL 65.0
$4.08 MX$70.6
-40.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.66 HNL 257
$10.32 MX$178
-6.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 HNL 35.56
$1.71 MX$29.61
-21.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 HNL 47.22
$2.58 MX$44.54
-31.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Tegucigalpa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.50 HNL 40.08
$0.51 MX$8.81
194.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.46 MX$458
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.17 HNL 111
$3.26 MX$56.4
27.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.20 HNL 85.1
$2.49 MX$43.09
28.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.25 MX$56.2
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 HNL 27.20
$1.31 MX$22.61
-22.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6K HNL 520.7K
$30.3K MX$523.7K
-35.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.0K HNL 505.7K
$23.4K MX$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)
$81.8 HNL 2,179
$82.9 MX$1,433
-1.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.89 HNL 237
$22.22 MX$384
-59.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.08 HNL 1,094
$29.34 MX$507
40.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tegucigalpa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.59 HNL 974
$51.6 MX$893
-29.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.15 HNL 404
$18.32 MX$317
-17.30%
Cinema Ticket
$5.73 HNL 153
$5.07 MX$87.6
13.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tegucigalpa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$251 HNL 6,683
$201 MX$3,473
24.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$5,212 MX$90.1K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tegucigalpa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.24 HNL 1,205
$36.92 MX$639
22.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.93 HNL 957
$39.79 MX$688
-9.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 HNL 2,862
$78.5 MX$1,357
36.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 HNL 2,722
$87.1 MX$1,506
17.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tegucigalpa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$278 HNL 7,416
$973 MX$16.8K
-71.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 HNL 6,353
$468 MX$8,090
-48.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$576 HNL 15.3K
$1,641 MX$28.4K
-64.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$469 HNL 12.5K
$1,221 MX$21.1K
-61.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,760 HNL 73.5K
$3,946 MX$68.3K
-30.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,566 HNL 41.7K
$6,498 MX$112.4K
-75.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tegucigalpa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$516 HNL 13.7K
$664 MX$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.

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