πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,957 in Henderson, NV versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $4,245 in Henderson, NV versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,534 in Henderson, NV versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
πLiving in Henderson, NV is roughly 128% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Henderson, NV is 121% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Henderson, NV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.38$20.38
$11.73MX$203
73.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.5$56.5
$41.62MX$720
35.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.87$9.87
$10.64MX$184
-7.24%
Cappuccino
$4.88$4.88
$3.52MX$60.9
38.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91$2.91
$1.51MX$26.12
92.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89$1.89
$0.97MX$16.84
94.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.08$7.08
$2.95MX$51.0
140.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.14$8.14
$4.45MX$77.0
82.92%
π Groceries & Markets
Henderson, NV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20$1.20
$1.38MX$23.93
-13.04%
White Bread(500g)
$3.91$3.91
$1.89MX$32.72
106.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.12$4.12
$1.64MX$28.32
151.22%
Eggs
$3.37$3.37
$2.51MX$43.34
34.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.35$10.35
$8.34MX$144
24.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49$9.49
$8.34MX$144
13.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.34$14.34
$10.73MX$186
33.64%
Apples(1kg)
$4.84$4.84
$2.60MX$45.04
86.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63$1.63
$1.46MX$25.20
11.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.31$4.31
$1.90MX$32.87
126.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.90$4.90
$2.08MX$35.91
135.58%
Potato(1kg)
$4.83$4.83
$1.78MX$30.71
171.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.57$1.57
$2.19MX$37.80
-28.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.84$1.84
$1.04MX$17.99
76.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.14$2.14
$1.08MX$18.62
98.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.87$8.87
$4.08MX$70.6
117.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.97$13.97
$10.32MX$178
35.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76$1.76
$1.71MX$29.61
2.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65$1.65
$2.58MX$44.54
-36.05%
π Getting Around
Henderson, NV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.80$2.80
$0.51MX$8.81
449.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.1$65.1
$26.46MX$458
146.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.56$3.56
$3.26MX$56.4
9.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.64$1.64
$2.49MX$43.09
-34.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$40.31$40.31
$3.25MX$56.2
1140.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10$1.10
$1.31MX$22.61
-16.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4K$33.4K
$30.3KMX$523.7K
10.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K$24.6K
$23.4KMX$405.3K
5.16%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Henderson, NV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$185$185
$82.9MX$1,433
123.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.55$47.55
$22.22MX$384
114.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.7$65.7
$29.34MX$507
124.06%
π Sport & Entertainment
Henderson, NV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.77$23.77
$51.6MX$893
-53.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.60$39.60
$18.32MX$317
116.16%
Cinema Ticket
$10.73$10.73
$5.07MX$87.6
111.64%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Henderson, NV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,056$1,056
$201MX$3,473
425.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.1K$18.1K
$5,212MX$90.1K
247.29%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Henderson, NV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3$54.3
$36.92MX$639
47.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.75$24.75
$39.79MX$688
-37.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.9$83.9
$78.5MX$1,357
6.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.5$91.5
$87.1MX$1,506
5.08%
π Accommodation & Living
Henderson, NV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,611$1,611
$973MX$16.8K
65.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,799$1,799
$468MX$8,090
284.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,745$2,745
$1,641MX$28.4K
67.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,952$2,952
$1,221MX$21.1K
141.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,855$2,855
$3,946MX$68.3K
-27.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,816$2,816
$6,498MX$112.4K
-56.67%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Henderson, NV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,619$4,619
$664MX$11.5K
595.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.56
11.42
-42.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Henderson, NV: June 2, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,611 in Henderson, NV and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Henderson, NV pays 596% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $56.0 in Henderson, NV vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $369 vs $249 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
Henderson, NV vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Henderson, NV and Playa del Carmen?
Henderson, NV and Playa del Carmen differ by about 128% in total monthly costs ($2,957 vs $1,297 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Henderson, NV or Playa del Carmen?
Henderson, NV pays 596% 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 do apartment prices compare in Henderson, NV and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,611 in Henderson, NV versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 48% higher in Henderson, NV. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen β a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $56.0 in Henderson, NV. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,957 in Henderson, NV, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Henderson, NV. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Henderson, NV and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Henderson, NV or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet β expenses run 128% less than in Henderson, NV. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Henderson, NV vs other spots: cost of living compared