Which place is cheaper, Halifax or Playa del Carmen?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Playa del Carmen or Halifax?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Halifax? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Playa del Carmen or Halifax?
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is in Quintana Roo on the Yucatan Peninsula. It's a popular resort town and is about seventy kilometers south of Cancun. It has a European atmosphere with many small hotels and a nice relaxed feel. It was originally a small fishing town but tourism began with the introduction of a passenger ferry to Cozumel. The area developed rapidly and there are many luxury hotels, condos, and resorts. There are also American chains and a variety of shopping opportunities nearby.
Halifax
The quaint and charming coastal town of Halifax, Nova Scotia has an interesting personality. While it caters to travelers from all over the world, it maintains the pace and lifestyle of a small town.
Steeped in maritime history, Halifax is the capital of Nova Scotia, and one of the world's greatest natural harbors. This busy seaport serves as the economic and cultural hub of Eastern Canada.
When planning your trip keep in mind that this city has a climate like other coastal cities. Summers are nice with the occasional humidity. Winters are mild, but still full of snow and wind. The best time of year to visit is most certainly the fall.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Vancouver.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPlaya del Carmen $81Halifax $114
The average daily cost (per person) in Playa del Carmen is $81, while the average daily cost in Halifax is $114. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Playa del Carmen and Halifax in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPlaya del Carmen $40Halifax $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPlaya del Carmen $80Halifax $130
Compare Hotels in Playa del Carmen and Halifax
Looking for a hotel in Playa del Carmen or Halifax? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Playa del Carmen Hotel Prices and Halifax Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Playa del Carmen $24Halifax $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Playa del Carmen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:
- Wedding Transfers Services in Round Trip Playa del Carmen: $180
- Transfer in Private vehicle from Akumal City - Cancun Airport (CUN) : $74
- Tour Bacalar Ponton with Transfer from Cancun & Playa del Carmen : $147
- Shared roundtrip transfer from Cancun airport to Playa del Carmen: $71
- Shared Transfer Cancun Airport - Playa del Carmen: $31
- Roundtrip Private Transfer Playa del Carmen from CUN: $175
- Private Transfer: Playa del Carmen to Cancun Airport CUN in SUV: $91
- Private Transfer: Akumal to Cancun Airport CUN in SUV: $115
- Private Transfer to/from Akumal Hotels: $79
- Private Transfer to Xel-Há Park from Playa del Carmen: $53
- Private Transfer to Xcaret Park from Playa del Carmen: $60
- Private Transfer to Xavage / Xoximilco: $59
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Halifax
Also for Halifax, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Peggy’s Cove Small-Group Tour with Transfers: $80
- Halifax Airport (YHZ) to Halifax Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $68
- Halifax Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Halifax hotels: $133
- Halifax Stanfield Airport (YHZ) to Halifax Port-Arrival Transfer: $34
- Halifax Stanfield Airport (YHZ): Transfer to Halifax Port: $209
- Halifax Stanfield Airport(YHZ) to Halifax Port - Arrival Transfer: $34
- Transfer to/from Stanfield International Airport: $44
- Private Transfer from Halifax Stanfield Airport to Halifax: $36
Is it cheaper to fly into Playa del Carmen or Halifax?
Prices for flights to both Halifax and Playa del Carmen change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayPlaya del Carmen $24Halifax $31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Playa del Carmen
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Playa del Carmen.
- Cenotes by Bike and Mayan Cooking Class Half-Day Guided Tour: $60
- Walking Food Tour: $65
- Playa del Carmen Food Tour: $71
- Playa Del Carmen Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $75
- Playa del Carmen Walking Food Tour: $78
- Playa del Camen Vegan Mexican Food Tour: $84
- Mexican Cooking Class: $100
- PDC Traditional Mexican Cooking Experience: $104
- Authentic Mexican Cooking Class in Playa del Carmen: $120
- Isa’s Authentic Mexican Cooking Class: $120
- Riviera Maya: Sunset Cruise with Beach Dinner and Open Bar: $157
- Playa del Carmen Mexican Gourmet Food Tour: $211
Typical Food Prices in Halifax
For Halifax, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Bluenose II Restaurant$45
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Halifax
For Halifax, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Peggy's Cove Small Group Night Tour with Dinner: $160
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Playa del Carmen $17Halifax $28
Tours and Activities in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few actual costs in Playa del Carmen for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Electric fatbike ecological tour in the Mayan lands: $150
- Tulum Ruins, Turtle Sightseeing & Underground Cenote from Tulum: $140
- 3 Hour Tour ATV Single with Underground River from Tulum : $118
- 3D Museum of Wonders Admission Ticket: $42
- A Lifetime Experience: Whale Shark Snorkeling Tour: $250
- ATV Adventure with Ziplines Cenote from Playa del Carmen: $75
- ATV Ride and Secret Caves Tour from Playa del Carmen: $80
- ATV Shared & Ziplines Adventure in Tulum Jungle from Riviera Maya: $133
- ATV Shared, Cavern & Ziplines -Jungle Adventure from Riviera Maya: $158
- ATV Tour in Playa del Carmen with Zip Lines: $73
- ATV Xtreme & Snorkel Experience: $138
- ATV Xtreme and Zipline Adventure from Riviera Maya: $119
Tours and Activities in Halifax
For Halifax, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Discover the Halifax Explosion Audio Walking Tour: $5.11
- Churches, Gardens, & Graveyards Smartphone Tour: $5.11
- Halifax Boardwalk and Seaport: Smartphone Audio Tour: $5.11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Exlore Halifax with 3 Unique Smartphone Audio Walking Tours: $13
- Halifax self-guided walking tour and scavenger hunt: $38
- From City and Peggy's Cove Sunset Guided Tour: $65
- City Segway Tour: $67
- Small-Group Tour with Citadel and Peggy's Cove: $94
- Small Group Walking Tour with Citadel & Museum: $102
- From Small Group Lunenberg Express Tour: $120
- Guided Harbourfront Food Walking Tour: $120
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPlaya del Carmen $21Halifax $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Playa del Carmen:
- Tour to the Brewery with Tasting and Fifth Avenue: $109
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Playa del Carmen and Halifax, we can see that Halifax is more expensive. And not only is Playa del Carmen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Playa del Carmen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Playa del Carmen and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Halifax would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Halifax than you might in Playa del Carmen.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Playa del Carmen Expensive? and Is Halifax Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Playa del Carmen or Halifax?
Halifax has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Playa del Carmen. When comparing the sizes of Playa del Carmen and Halifax, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Playa del Carmen or Halifax?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Halifax in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Playa del Carmen as well as Halifax. Many travelers come to Playa del Carmen for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Playa del Carmen is much warmer than Halifax. Typically, the summer temperatures in Playa del Carmen in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Halifax averages at about 18°C (64°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Halifax. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa del Carmen this time of the year. In the summer, Playa del Carmen often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Halifax. Playa del Carmen gets 223 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Halifax receives 230 hours of full sun.
Playa del Carmen receives a lot of rain in the summer. Playa del Carmen usually gets more rain in July than Halifax. Playa del Carmen gets 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Halifax receives 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPlaya del Carmen 28°C (82°F)Halifax 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Halifax in the Autumn?
Both Halifax and Playa del Carmen are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Playa del Carmen in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Playa del Carmen is generally much warmer than Halifax. Daily temperatures in Playa del Carmen average around 26°C (79°F), and Halifax fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa del Carmen. Playa del Carmen usually receives more sunshine than Halifax during autumn. Playa del Carmen gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Halifax receives 148 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Halifax. It's quite rainy in Playa del Carmen. In October, Playa del Carmen usually receives around the same amount of rain as Halifax. Playa del Carmen gets 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Halifax receives 121 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn. June to October is the hurricane season in Playa del Carmen.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPlaya del Carmen 26°C (79°F)Halifax 10°C (49°F)
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Halifax in the Winter?
Both Halifax and Playa del Carmen during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Playa del Carmen for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
The weather in Halifax can be very cold. Playa del Carmen is much warmer than Halifax in the winter. The daily temperature in Playa del Carmen averages around 23°C (73°F) in January, and Halifax fluctuates around -4°C (24°F).
It's quite sunny in Playa del Carmen. In the winter, Playa del Carmen often gets more sunshine than Halifax. Playa del Carmen gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Halifax receives 111 hours of full sun.
Halifax gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Playa del Carmen usually gets less rain in January than Halifax. Playa del Carmen gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Halifax receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPlaya del Carmen 23°C (73°F)Halifax -4°C (24°F)
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Halifax in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Playa del Carmen and Halifax. The spring months attract visitors to Playa del Carmen because of the beaches and the natural beauty.
It's quite cold in Halifax in the spring. In the spring, Playa del Carmen is much warmer than Halifax. Typically, the spring temperatures in Playa del Carmen in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Halifax averages at about 4°C (39°F).
In Playa del Carmen, it's very sunny this time of the year. Playa del Carmen usually receives more sunshine than Halifax during spring. Playa del Carmen gets 259 hours of sunny skies, while Halifax receives 148 hours of full sun in the spring.
Halifax receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Playa del Carmen usually receives less rain than Halifax. Playa del Carmen gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Halifax receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring. June to October in Playa del Carmen is the hurricane season.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPlaya del Carmen 27°C (81°F)Halifax 4°C (39°F)
Typical Weather for Halifax and Playa del Carmen
| Playa del Carmen | Halifax | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | -4°C (24°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | -5°C (24°F) | 108 mm (4.2 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 121 mm (4.7 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (75°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | -1°C (29°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.