Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-'amarah and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-'amarah and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $273 per month in Al-'amarah vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $294 per month in Al-'amarah vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $316 per month in Al-'amarah vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Al-'amarah is about 78% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Al-'amarah and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Al-'amarah 80% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.89 IQD 2,477

$11.60 MX$200

-83.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.11 MX$812

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.49 IQD 5,883

$11.88 MX$205

-62.21%

Cappuccino

$3.98 MX$68.6

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

$1.43 MX$24.60

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 MX$14.22

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$55.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$2.72 IQD 3,567

$1.68 MX$28.89

61.90%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 IQD 965

$2.20 MX$37.88

-66.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 IQD 1,214

$1.71 MX$29.45

-45.61%

Eggs

$1.49 IQD 1,945

$2.74 MX$47.26

-45.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MX$165

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 MX$155

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.81 MX$221

Apples (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 978

$2.89 MX$49.81

-74.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,519

$1.50 MX$25.81

-22.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.79 IQD 1,029

$2.15 MX$37.03

-63.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.26 IQD 340

$2.26 MX$38.96

-88.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 IQD 1,029

$1.98 MX$34.15

-60.10%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 IQD 519

$1.99 MX$34.30

-79.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 MX$21.28

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 733

$1.20 MX$20.63

-53.33%

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)

$2.31 IQD 3,030

$5.39 MX$92.9

-57.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.3

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 IQD 431

$1.54 MX$26.48

-78.57%

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)

$26.98 IQD 35.3K

$31.24 MX$539

-13.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.44 IQD 39.9K

$67.2 MX$1,159

-54.70%

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)

$152 IQD 198.5K

$1,063 MX$18.3K

-85.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 IQD 150.3K

$390 MX$6,728

-70.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$195 IQD 254.9K

$2,149 MX$37.1K

-90.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 MX$21.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$578 IQD 757.5K

$4,001 MX$69.0K

-85.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$501 IQD 655.6K

$758 MX$13.1K

-33.96%

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 Al-'amarah: September 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $152 in Al-'amarah 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 51% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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

Al-'amarah vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 364%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $409 per month in Al-'amarah 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 Al-'amarah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $273 in Al-'amarah and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 298% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-'amarah, where all-in costs run around $273, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Al-'amarah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al-'amarah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Al-'amarah. 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.