Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Henties Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Henties Bay

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $231 in Henties Bay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,126 in Playa del Carmen versus $344 in Henties Bay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,980 in Playa del Carmen versus $457 in Henties Bay.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 449% more expensive than Henties Bay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Henties Bay 83% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Henties Bay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87 MX$204
$2.74 NAD 44.52
333.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90 MX$736
$30.39 NAD 495
41.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.65 MX$183
$3.82 NAD 62.1
178.80%
Cappuccino
$3.45 MX$59.2
$1.92 NAD 31.27
79.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 MX$25.81
$1.66 NAD 27.06
-9.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 MX$16.28
$1.35 NAD 22.04
-29.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$51.9
$2.22 NAD 36.12
36.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 MX$79.1
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🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Henties Bay
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.61
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$31.70
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.65
-
-
Eggs
$2.59 MX$44.51
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.26 MX$142
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.37 MX$144
-
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Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.66 MX$183
-
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Apples (1kg)
$2.63 MX$45.12
-
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Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.53
-
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Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 MX$32.94
-
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Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$35.81
-
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Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$31.88
-
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Onion (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.81
-
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Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 MX$18.23
-
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Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.67
-
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Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15 MX$71.2
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Wine (Bottle)
$10.39 MX$178
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Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$29.59
-
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Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$44.85
-
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🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Henties Bay
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.30
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.94 MX$462
-
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Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$53.7
-
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Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.51 MX$43.09
-
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Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.15 MX$54.1
-
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Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$21.88
-
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Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K MX$521.3K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K MX$404.5K
-
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🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Henties Bay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 MX$1,425
$89.5 NAD 1,456
-7.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71 MX$390
-
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Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46 MX$506
$65.0 NAD 1,058
-54.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Henties Bay
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 MX$875
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Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33 MX$315
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Cinema Ticket
$4.93 MX$84.5
-
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🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Henties Bay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,386
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,280 MX$90.6K
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👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Henties Bay
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90 MX$633
-
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Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89 MX$685
-
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Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.0 MX$1,373
-
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Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5 MX$1,536
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🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Henties Bay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$956 MX$16.4K
-
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1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$477 MX$8,189
-
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3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,646 MX$28.3K
-
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3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,225 MX$21.0K
-
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Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,918 MX$67.2K
-
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Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,459 MX$110.9K
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💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Henties Bay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$667 MX$11.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
0
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CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Last update for Henties Bay: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out at a mid-range restaurant: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $30.00 in Henties Bay for two.

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 Henties Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Henties Bay cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Henties Bay is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 449% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,906 in Playa del Carmen and $347 in Henties Bay to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or Henties Bay?
Dining out is cheaper in Henties Bay – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Henties Bay?
All in, you'll spend $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $231 in Henties Bay – a 449% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Henties Bay?
At $231 in Henties Bay versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Henties Bay but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Henties Bay the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Henties Bay more family-friendly?
For families, Henties Bay is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Henties Bay?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Henties Bay 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Henties Bay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 449% less than in Playa del Carmen. 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

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