😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,728 in Amadora versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,532 in Amadora versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,336 in Amadora versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Amadora is roughly 34% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Amadora is 29% above, Playa del Carmen is 4% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amadora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.65€9.95
$11.94MX$208
-2.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.65€38.99
$42.75MX$744
6.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.22€7.88
$10.59MX$184
-12.94%
Cappuccino
$1.96€1.67
$3.62MX$63.0
-45.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00€1.71
$1.47MX$25.54
36.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48€1.27
$0.94MX$16.41
57.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49€2.13
$3.09MX$53.8
-19.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50€2.98
$4.46MX$77.6
-21.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amadora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04€0.89
$1.43MX$24.80
-27.27%
White Bread(500g)
$1.58€1.35
$1.88MX$32.79
-15.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.41€1.20
$1.63MX$28.34
-13.50%
Eggs
$2.99€2.55
$2.64MX$45.99
13.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.54€9.85
$8.21MX$143
40.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.98€5.96
$8.29MX$144
-15.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.25€9.60
$11.10MX$193
1.35%
Apples(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$2.65MX$46.14
-25.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.67€1.43
$1.50MX$26.11
11.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62€1.39
$1.99MX$34.59
-18.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.18
$2.08MX$36.13
22.60%
Potato(1kg)
$1.51€1.29
$1.79MX$31.11
-15.64%
Onion(1kg)
$1.84€1.57
$2.18MX$37.87
-15.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.64€1.40
$1.08MX$18.73
51.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37€0.32
$1.04MX$18.04
-64.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.33€5.41
$3.97MX$69.1
59.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.71€4.87
$10.20MX$178
-44.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32€1.13
$1.73MX$30.04
-23.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14€0.97
$2.50MX$43.46
-54.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Amadora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.82€2.41
$0.52MX$9.02
442.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.23€39.48
$26.97MX$469
71.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.48
$3.14MX$54.7
29.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.86€0.74
$2.40MX$41.80
-64.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.94€14.47
$3.09MX$53.7
448.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90€1.63
$1.27MX$22.16
49.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0K€19.7K
$30.9KMX$537.3K
-25.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€33.8K
$23.3KMX$405.7K
69.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amadora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$165€141
$82.0MX$1,427
101.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.34€18.22
$22.45MX$391
-4.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.45€25.15
$29.66MX$516
-0.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amadora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.21€34.34
$51.9MX$903
-22.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.63€24.45
$18.67MX$325
53.35%
Cinema Ticket
$8.06€6.88
$4.97MX$86.5
62.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amadora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$343€293
$198MX$3,442
73.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.2K€11.3K
$5,273MX$91.7K
150.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amadora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.6€60.3
$36.34MX$632
94.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.51€29.47
$40.05MX$697
-13.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€86.1
$79.9MX$1,390
26.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.5€67.9
$88.9MX$1,547
-10.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amadora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$966€825
$963MX$16.8K
0.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$872€744
$465MX$8,086
87.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,709€1,460
$1,596MX$27.8K
7.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,407€1,201
$1,209MX$21.0K
16.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,867€3,302
$3,942MX$68.6K
-1.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,454€2,950
$6,448MX$112.2K
-46.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amadora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,448€1,237
$720MX$12.5K
101.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.43
11.42
-52.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Amadora: April 25, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $966 in Amadora and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Amadora pays 101% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Amadora vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $226 vs $251, with Amadora cheaper for home cooking.
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
Amadora vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Amadora?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Amadora or Playa del Carmen?
Amadora pays 101% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Amadora and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $966 in Amadora versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Amadora and Playa del Carmen?
Shoppers in Amadora pay roughly 11% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Amadora or Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $46.00 in Amadora. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Amadora or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,728 in Amadora, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Amadora. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Amadora or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Amadora, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Amadora or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Amadora and Playa del Carmen 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 Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Amadora. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.