🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,235 in Amagasaki versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,946 in Amagasaki versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,657 in Amagasaki versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Amagasaki costs roughly 2% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Amagasaki7% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amagasaki
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.95¥1,095
$11.72MX$203
-40.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.99¥5,514
$41.89MX$725
-16.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.45¥858
$10.51MX$182
-48.14%
Cappuccino
$3.19¥503
$3.59MX$62.0
-11.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05¥165
$1.51MX$26.10
-30.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77¥121
$0.92MX$15.83
-16.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.65¥417
$2.96MX$51.2
-10.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10¥488
$4.41MX$76.3
-29.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amagasaki
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.55¥244
$1.40MX$24.16
10.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.55¥243
$1.88MX$32.60
-17.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.75¥748
$1.56MX$26.97
204.49%
Eggs
$2.27¥358
$2.61MX$45.14
-13.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.92¥1,563
$8.32MX$144
19.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.48¥1,022
$8.35MX$145
-22.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.22¥2,398
$10.86MX$188
40.15%
Apples(1kg)
$5.41¥853
$2.71MX$46.93
99.63%
Banana(1kg)
$2.51¥396
$1.51MX$26.04
66.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.96¥624
$1.87MX$32.41
111.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.99¥944
$2.19MX$37.89
173.52%
Potato(1kg)
$3.02¥475
$1.86MX$32.14
62.37%
Onion(1kg)
$2.69¥423
$2.23MX$38.59
20.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39¥220
$1.07MX$18.48
29.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88¥138
$1.09MX$18.79
-19.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19¥661
$4.19MX$72.4
-
Wine(Bottle)
$7.96¥1,254
$10.43MX$180
-23.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85¥291
$1.66MX$28.68
11.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23¥351
$2.61MX$45.19
-14.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Amagasaki
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.66¥261
$0.54MX$9.37
207.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$54.5¥8,584
$26.16MX$453
108.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.52¥554
$3.08MX$53.3
14.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.02¥476
$2.40MX$41.61
25.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.49¥3,228
$3.13MX$54.1
554.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.20¥189
$1.31MX$22.69
-8.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4K¥3.7M
$29.8KMX$515.7K
-21.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.5K¥2.8M
$23.3KMX$403.5K
-25.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amagasaki
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$142¥22.4K
$81.3MX$1,406
75.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.19¥4,284
$22.56MX$390
20.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.07¥5,368
$30.05MX$520
13.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amagasaki
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.2¥8,703
$52.9MX$915
4.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.11¥2,223
$18.39MX$318
-23.27%
Cinema Ticket
$12.32¥1,941
$4.92MX$85.1
150.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amagasaki
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$279¥43.9K
$201MX$3,474
38.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.2K¥2.1M
$5,175MX$89.5K
155.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amagasaki
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.25¥6,814
$35.92MX$622
20.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.08¥4,582
$40.13MX$694
-27.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.2¥9,636
$79.7MX$1,379
-23.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7¥14.6K
$86.5MX$1,496
7.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amagasaki
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477¥75.2K
$978MX$16.9K
-51.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$334¥52.7K
$470MX$8,140
-28.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$878¥138.3K
$1,651MX$28.6K
-46.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$657¥103.5K
$1,203MX$20.8K
-45.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,821¥759.6K
$3,953MX$68.4K
21.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,327¥366.7K
$6,607MX$114.3K
-64.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amagasaki
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,861¥450.8K
$677MX$11.7K
322.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.78
11.42
-84.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Amagasaki: July 28, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Amagasaki and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Amagasaki pays 323% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Amagasaki vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $315 vs $252, with Playa del Carmen 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
Amagasaki vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Amagasaki and in Playa del Carmen?
Amagasaki and Playa del Carmen differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($1,235 vs $1,260 including rent). Amagasaki is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Amagasaki or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 323% higher in Amagasaki, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Amagasaki and in Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Amagasaki versus $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Playa del Carmen pay roughly 25% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Amagasaki – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,235 in Amagasaki versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Amagasaki but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Amagasaki the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Amagasaki and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Amagasaki or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Amagasaki gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.