Cost of Living Comparison Between Adama and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Adama and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,006 per month in Adama vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,693 per month in Adama vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,380 per month in Adama vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Adama is about 21% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Adama and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Adama 26% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.06 ETB 491

$11.60 MX$200

-73.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.54 ETB 6,834

$47.11 MX$812

-9.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 ETB 815

$11.88 MX$205

-57.32%

Cappuccino

$0.90 ETB 144

$3.98 MX$68.6

-77.39%

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

$0.60 ETB 96.3

$1.43 MX$24.60

-58.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ETB 49.92

$0.82 MX$14.22

-62.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.77 ETB 124

$3.19 MX$55.0

-75.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 ETB 357

$6.79 MX$117

-67.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 ETB 135

$1.68 MX$28.89

-50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.18 ETB 190

$2.20 MX$37.88

-46.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 ETB 341

$1.71 MX$29.45

23.98%

Eggs

$1.75 ETB 281

$2.74 MX$47.26

-36.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.55 ETB 1,213

$9.58 MX$165

-21.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.28 ETB 1,652

$9.01 MX$155

14.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.35 ETB 1,502

$12.81 MX$221

-27.01%

Apples (1kg)

$5.29 ETB 850

$2.89 MX$49.81

83.04%

Banana (1kg)

$0.65 ETB 104

$1.50 MX$25.81

-56.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 ETB 343

$2.15 MX$37.03

-0.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 ETB 105

$2.26 MX$38.96

-71.24%

Potato (1kg)

$0.46 ETB 73.6

$1.98 MX$34.15

-76.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 ETB 169

$1.99 MX$34.30

-47.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 ETB 104

$1.23 MX$21.28

-47.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ETB 97.3

$1.20 MX$20.63

-49.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.18 ETB 1,313

$4.55 MX$78.5

79.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.54 ETB 889

$10.37 MX$179

-46.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ETB 114

$1.62 MX$27.91

-56.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 ETB 206

$2.88 MX$49.67

-55.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.35

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$497

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 ETB 207

$5.39 MX$92.9

-76.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ETB 46.93

$3.73 MX$64.3

-92.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ETB 315

$5.77 MX$99.5

-66.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 ETB 156

$1.54 MX$26.48

-37.01%

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

$54.6K ETB 8.8M

$22.5K MX$388.8K

142.01%

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

$56.0K ETB 9.0M

$26.1K MX$449.3K

114.94%

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

$204 ETB 32.7K

$91.4 MX$1,576

122.82%

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

$7.22 ETB 1,160

$25.20 MX$435

-71.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$212 ETB 34.1K

$31.24 MX$539

580.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,159

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$502

Cinema Ticket

$3.64 ETB 585

$4.86 MX$83.8

-25.10%

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

$138 ETB 22.2K

$224 MX$3,856

-38.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.7K ETB 4.9M

$4,229 MX$72.9K

625.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.59 ETB 5,396

$47.10 MX$812

-28.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$70.8 ETB 11.4K

$44.29 MX$764

59.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 ETB 12.5K

$80.1 MX$1,381

-2.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.7 ETB 13.1K

$92.7 MX$1,598

-11.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$347 ETB 55.7K

$1,063 MX$18.3K

-67.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 ETB 31.8K

$390 MX$6,728

-49.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$982 ETB 157.7K

$2,149 MX$37.1K

-54.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$816 ETB 131.1K

$1,272 MX$21.9K

-35.86%

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)

$102 ETB 16.3K

$758 MX$13.1K

-86.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.5

11.45

61.57%

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

Last update for Adama: September 14, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $347 in Adama versus $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 646% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Adama versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $210 vs $276 – making Adama the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Adama vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,006 in Adama, $1,266 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 26% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,509 per month in Adama and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Adama, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Adama and $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 31% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Adama, where all-in costs run around $1,006, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Adama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,006 in Adama to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Adama. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.