😐A single person spends $1,552 per month in Adra vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,237 per month in Adra vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,922 per month in Adra vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Adra costs about 24% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Adra sits 16% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Adra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.65€15.44
$11.99MX$210
47.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.8€49.69
$41.78MX$733
35.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.53€9.21
$10.75MX$189
-2.05%
Cappuccino
$2.14€1.88
$3.50MX$61.3
-38.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$1.45MX$25.41
57.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.31
$0.88MX$15.52
70.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.82€2.47
$2.95MX$51.7
-4.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56€3.12
$4.51MX$79.1
-21.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Adra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$1.43MX$25.12
-11.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.79€1.57
$1.84MX$32.23
-2.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.85€0.74
$1.57MX$27.51
-45.86%
Eggs
$2.86€2.50
$2.51MX$44.06
13.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.47€10.03
$8.28MX$145
38.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.92€2.55
$8.43MX$148
-65.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.55€10.11
$10.68MX$187
8.15%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39€2.09
$2.61MX$45.76
-8.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.14€1.00
$1.44MX$25.22
-20.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.38€1.21
$1.96MX$34.41
-29.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.39€2.09
$2.09MX$36.74
14.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.66€1.45
$1.85MX$32.47
-10.27%
Onion(1kg)
$1.68€1.47
$2.17MX$38.02
-22.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07€0.93
$1.03MX$18.09
3.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70€0.61
$1.07MX$18.84
-34.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.93€5.19
$4.10MX$72.0
44.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.57€3.99
$10.17MX$178
-55.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.66€0.57
$1.68MX$29.38
-60.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84€1.61
$2.53MX$44.31
-27.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Adra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.64€1.43
$0.51MX$8.93
221.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.62€30.29
$26.04MX$457
32.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.72€1.51
$3.23MX$56.7
-46.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29€1.12
$2.41MX$42.19
-46.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.68€15.47
$3.23MX$56.6
447.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.59
$1.32MX$23.17
37.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K€17.3K
$29.7KMX$520.9K
-33.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.7K€26.8K
$23.7KMX$415.0K
29.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Adra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$127€111
$82.0MX$1,439
54.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.87€18.26
$22.95MX$403
-9.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.90€20.03
$30.11MX$528
-23.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Adra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.86€41.87
$52.0MX$912
-7.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.88€13.02
$18.53MX$325
-19.70%
Cinema Ticket
$9.74€8.52
$4.98MX$87.3
95.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Adra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$716€627
$197MX$3,463
262.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.6K€9,317
$5,336MX$93.6K
99.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Adra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.9€62.0
$35.60MX$624
99.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.14€27.25
$40.33MX$707
-22.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$52.5€45.96
$78.8MX$1,381
-33.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.9€70.8
$88.9MX$1,560
-9.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Adra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$843€738
$947MX$16.6K
-10.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$691€604
$474MX$8,314
45.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,327€1,161
$1,644MX$28.8K
-19.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,018€890
$1,211MX$21.2K
-15.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,525€3,084
$4,056MX$71.1K
-13.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,162€1,892
$6,470MX$113.5K
-66.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Adra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,344€2,051
$654MX$11.5K
258.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.58
11.42
-68.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Adra: July 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $843 in Adra versus $947 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 258% higher in Adra, 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 $57.0 in Adra versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $202 in Adra vs $249 in Playa del Carmen – so Adra wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Adra vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Adra or Playa del Carmen?
Adra costs about 24% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Adra and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,329 per month in Adra and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Adra or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Adra and in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Adra and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Adra compared to Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,552 in Adra and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Adra or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Adra at $1,552. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Adra it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Adra or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,256 versus $1,552 in Adra. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Adra compared to Playa del Carmen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Adra or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Adra makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.