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: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $89.3 in Henties Bay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,279 in Playa del Carmen versus $212 in Henties Bay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,292 in Playa del Carmen versus $334 in Henties Bay.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 1318% more expensive than in Henties Bay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 7% lower, Henties Bay 93% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.60 MX$200

$3.15 NAD 51.5

268.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.11 MX$812

$33.73 NAD 552

39.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.88 MX$205

$4.28 NAD 70.1

177.57%

Cappuccino

$3.98 MX$68.6

$2.11 NAD 34.62

88.63%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 MX$24.60

$1.73 NAD 28.37

-17.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 MX$14.22

$1.51 NAD 24.64

-45.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$55.0

$2.39 NAD 39.14

33.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.89

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 MX$37.88

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.45

Eggs

$2.74 MX$47.26

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MX$165

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 MX$155

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.81 MX$221

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 MX$49.81

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.81

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.03

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.96

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 MX$34.15

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.30

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 MX$21.28

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.63

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 MX$78.5

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.91

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.67

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.35

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$497

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 MX$92.9

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.3

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.48

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.5K MX$388.8K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.1K MX$449.3K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$91.4 MX$1,576

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.20 MX$435

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.24 MX$539

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,159

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$502

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$83.8

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$224 MX$3,856

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 MX$812

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 MX$764

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,381

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 MX$1,598

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 MX$18.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MX$6,728

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 MX$37.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 MX$21.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Last update for Henties Bay: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out at a mid-range restaurant: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $34.00 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

Henties Bay is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 1318% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,899 in Playa del Carmen and $134 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.

Dining out is cheaper in Henties Bay – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $89.3 in Henties Bay – a 1318% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $89.3 in Henties Bay versus $1,266 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.

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.

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.

Expats usually find Henties Bay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1318% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.