๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,262 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,312 in Haverhill.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,158 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,369 in Haverhill.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,054 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,426 in Haverhill.
๐Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 45% less than in Haverhill, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Haverhill is 72% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Haverhill
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61MX$201
$20.50ยฃ15.19
-43.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$742
$81.9ยฃ60.7
-47.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.60MX$184
$9.97ยฃ7.39
6.32%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.3
$4.72ยฃ3.50
-23.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.21
$2.29ยฃ1.70
-36.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90MX$15.58
$1.66ยฃ1.23
-45.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$6.05ยฃ4.48
-49.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56MX$79.2
$6.22ยฃ4.61
-26.69%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Haverhill
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45MX$25.20
$1.63ยฃ1.20
-11.04%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83MX$31.72
$1.60ยฃ1.18
14.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.92
$2.26ยฃ1.68
-28.76%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.05
$3.82ยฃ2.83
-33.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.54MX$148
$9.91ยฃ7.34
-13.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.47MX$147
$8.86ยฃ6.56
-4.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$189
$14.30ยฃ10.59
-24.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.37
$3.03ยฃ2.25
-9.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.91
$1.60ยฃ1.18
-6.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94MX$33.73
$2.83ยฃ2.10
-31.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.57
$3.47ยฃ2.57
-37.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.05
$1.64ยฃ1.22
12.80%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.00
$1.54ยฃ1.14
42.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.62
$1.11ยฃ0.82
-3.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.81
$1.51ยฃ1.12
-28.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06MX$70.5
$19.28ยฃ14.29
-78.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.46MX$182
$10.59ยฃ7.85
-1.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65MX$28.71
$2.79ยฃ2.07
-40.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55MX$44.23
$3.13ยฃ2.32
-18.53%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Haverhill
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MX$9.65
$3.33ยฃ2.47
-83.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.20MX$455
$87.8ยฃ65.1
-70.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$54.5
$5.36ยฃ3.97
-41.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.37MX$41.17
$1.55ยฃ1.15
52.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.2
$22.94ยฃ17.00
-85.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.81
$1.95ยฃ1.44
-32.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5KMX$530.2K
$38.8Kยฃ28.8K
-21.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$413.6K
$41.0Kยฃ30.4K
-41.96%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Haverhill
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.1MX$1,443
$290ยฃ215
-71.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15MX$385
$16.87ยฃ12.50
31.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37MX$510
$42.33ยฃ31.37
-30.62%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Haverhill
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.2MX$889
$46.45ยฃ34.42
10.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69MX$324
$11.91ยฃ8.82
56.93%
Cinema Ticket
$4.89MX$84.9
$13.35ยฃ9.89
-63.37%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Haverhill
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$199MX$3,449
$1,593ยฃ1,180
-87.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,207MX$90.4K
$18.0Kยฃ13.4K
-71.11%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Haverhill
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93MX$624
$85.1ยฃ63.1
-57.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39MX$684
$43.62ยฃ32.33
-9.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.3MX$1,394
$91.8ยฃ68.0
-12.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6MX$1,520
$98.8ยฃ73.2
-11.35%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Haverhill
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.7K
$1,234ยฃ914
-21.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482MX$8,370
$983ยฃ729
-50.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,645MX$28.6K
$2,044ยฃ1,515
-19.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,192MX$20.7K
$1,698ยฃ1,258
-29.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,957MX$68.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,513MX$113.1K
-
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Haverhill
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$726MX$12.6K
$2,203ยฃ1,633
-67.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
5.63
102.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026
Last update for Haverhill: April 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $1,234 in Haverhill. 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: $43 in Playa del Carmen vs $82 in Haverhill for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $253 vs $299 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
Playa del Carmen vs Haverhill: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Haverhill?
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 Playa del Carmen or Haverhill?
On paper, Haverhill earns 203% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen vs Haverhill?
Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,234 in Haverhill. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Haverhill?
All in, you'll spend $1,262 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,312 in Haverhill โ a 83% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen vs Haverhill?
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 Playa del Carmen or Haverhill?
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, Playa del Carmen or Haverhill?
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 Playa del Carmen compared to Haverhill?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Haverhill 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared