๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,312 in Haverhill versus $1,262 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,369 in Haverhill versus $2,158 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,426 in Haverhill versus $3,054 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Living in Haverhill is roughly 83% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Haverhill is 72% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Haverhill
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.50ยฃ15.19
$11.61MX$201
76.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.9ยฃ60.7
$42.75MX$742
91.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.97ยฃ7.39
$10.60MX$184
-5.94%
Cappuccino
$4.72ยฃ3.50
$3.59MX$62.3
31.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29ยฃ1.70
$1.45MX$25.21
57.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66ยฃ1.23
$0.90MX$15.58
84.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.05ยฃ4.48
$3.03MX$52.6
99.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.22ยฃ4.61
$4.56MX$79.2
36.40%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Haverhill
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63ยฃ1.20
$1.45MX$25.20
12.41%
White Bread(500g)
$1.60ยฃ1.18
$1.83MX$31.72
-12.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.26ยฃ1.68
$1.61MX$27.92
40.37%
Eggs
$3.82ยฃ2.83
$2.54MX$44.05
50.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.91ยฃ7.34
$8.54MX$148
16.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.86ยฃ6.56
$8.47MX$147
4.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30ยฃ10.59
$10.86MX$189
31.68%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03ยฃ2.25
$2.73MX$47.37
10.99%
Banana(1kg)
$1.60ยฃ1.18
$1.49MX$25.91
7.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.83ยฃ2.10
$1.94MX$33.73
45.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.47ยฃ2.57
$2.16MX$37.57
60.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.64ยฃ1.22
$1.85MX$32.05
-11.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54ยฃ1.14
$2.19MX$38.00
-29.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.11ยฃ0.82
$1.07MX$18.62
3.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51ยฃ1.12
$1.08MX$18.81
39.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$19.28ยฃ14.29
$4.06MX$70.5
374.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.59ยฃ7.85
$10.46MX$182
1.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79ยฃ2.07
$1.65MX$28.71
69.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13ยฃ2.32
$2.55MX$44.23
22.75%
๐ Getting Around
Haverhill
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.33ยฃ2.47
$0.56MX$9.65
494.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.8ยฃ65.1
$26.20MX$455
235.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.36ยฃ3.97
$3.14MX$54.5
70.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.55ยฃ1.15
$2.37MX$41.17
-34.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.94ยฃ17.00
$3.24MX$56.2
608.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.95ยฃ1.44
$1.31MX$22.81
48.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8Kยฃ28.8K
$30.5KMX$530.2K
27.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.0Kยฃ30.4K
$23.8KMX$413.6K
72.28%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Haverhill
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$290ยฃ215
$83.1MX$1,443
249.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.87ยฃ12.50
$22.15MX$385
-23.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.33ยฃ31.37
$29.37MX$510
44.13%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Haverhill
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.45ยฃ34.42
$51.2MX$889
-9.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.91ยฃ8.82
$18.69MX$324
-36.28%
Cinema Ticket
$13.35ยฃ9.89
$4.89MX$84.9
173.01%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Haverhill
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,593ยฃ1,180
$199MX$3,449
701.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.0Kยฃ13.4K
$5,207MX$90.4K
246.09%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Haverhill
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.1ยฃ63.1
$35.93MX$624
136.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.62ยฃ32.33
$39.39MX$684
10.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.8ยฃ68.0
$80.3MX$1,394
14.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.8ยฃ73.2
$87.6MX$1,520
12.80%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Haverhill
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,234ยฃ914
$963MX$16.7K
28.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$983ยฃ729
$482MX$8,370
103.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,044ยฃ1,515
$1,645MX$28.6K
24.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,698ยฃ1,258
$1,192MX$20.7K
42.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,957MX$68.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,513MX$113.1K
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Haverhill
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,203ยฃ1,633
$726MX$12.6K
203.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.63
11.42
-50.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Haverhill: April 14, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,234 in Haverhill and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐHaverhill pays 203% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $82 in Haverhill vs $43 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $299 vs $253 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
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
Haverhill vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Haverhill or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost โ living expenses run 83% lower than in Haverhill. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Haverhill or Playa del Carmen?
Haverhill pays 203% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Haverhill vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,234 in Haverhill versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Haverhill compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,312 per month in Haverhill versus $1,262 in Playa del Carmen โ a 83% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Haverhill vs Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 235% less than in Haverhill. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Haverhill or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,262 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,312 in Haverhill, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Haverhill. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Haverhill or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value โ similar infrastructure at $1,262 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Haverhill compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Haverhill and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 83% less than in Haverhill. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.