Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Amarillo, TX and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,247 in Amarillo, TX, rent and utilities included – about $12,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Amarillo, TX, United States
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Amarillo, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,247
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Amarillo, TX and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Amarillo, TX and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,247 per month in Amarillo, TX vs $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Amarillo, TX $2,247
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

A couple spends around $3,305 per month in Amarillo, TX vs $2,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Amarillo, TX $3,305
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

A family of three spends $4,363 per month in Amarillo, TX vs $2,959 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Amarillo, TX $4,363
  • Playa del Carmen $2,959

Amarillo, TX costs about 87% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Amarillo, TX sits 65% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amarillo, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.22 $15.22
$10.92 MX$205
39.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.0 $68.0
$43.37 MX$813
56.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.83 $12.83
$11.78 MX$221
8.91%
Cappuccino
$6.80 $6.80
$3.81 MX$71.4
78.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.28 MX$24.03
73.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 $1.61
$0.78 MX$14.67
106.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.08 $4.08
$3.17 MX$59.3
28.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.99 $6.99
$4.93 MX$92.5
41.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amarillo, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.41 MX$26.35
-17.73%
White Bread (500g)
$3.37 $3.37
$2.22 MX$41.54
51.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.41 $3.41
$1.42 MX$26.56
140.14%
Eggs
$4.52 $4.52
$2.52 MX$47.27
79.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.19 $16.19
$7.26 MX$136
123.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.66 $12.66
$7.70 MX$144
64.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$27.34 $27.34
$12.69 MX$238
115.45%
Apples (1kg)
$4.03 $4.03
$2.78 MX$52.2
44.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.86 $1.86
$1.37 MX$25.64
35.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.57 $4.57
$2.55 MX$47.80
79.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.75 $3.75
$2.12 MX$39.78
76.89%
Potato (1kg)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.94 MX$36.32
10.82%
Onion (1kg)
$2.93 $2.93
$1.89 MX$35.34
55.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.74 $1.74
$1.15 MX$21.49
51.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.60 $2.60
$1.18 MX$22.09
120.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.85 $9.85
$4.30 MX$80.5
129.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.10 $12.10
$9.95 MX$186
21.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.08 $2.08
$1.58 MX$29.67
31.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.67 MX$50.1
-23.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Amarillo, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.01 $1.01
$0.55 MX$10.37
83.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.36 $30.36
$26.62 MX$499
14.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$4.97 MX$93.1
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$3.33 MX$62.4
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$5.36 MX$100
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.44 MX$27.06
-38.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K $27.6K
$20.7K MX$387.3K
33.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$23.5K MX$439.7K
8.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amarillo, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$294 $294
$84.8 MX$1,589
247.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.7 $51.7
$23.41 MX$439
120.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$89.9 $89.9
$28.66 MX$537
213.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amarillo, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.46 $45.46
$57.1 MX$1,069
-20.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.91 MX$542
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.82 $9.82
$5.14 MX$96.3
91.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amarillo, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$715 $715
$207 MX$3,871
246.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$3,927 MX$73.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amarillo, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.62 $37.62
$43.35 MX$812
-13.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$41.44 MX$777
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$59.9 $59.9
$74.2 MX$1,390
-19.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 $119
$89.3 MX$1,672
33.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amarillo, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$911 $911
$980 MX$18.4K
-7.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$894 $894
$381 MX$7,136
134.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,810 $1,810
$1,708 MX$32.0K
5.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,533 $1,533
$1,075 MX$20.1K
42.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,572 $1,572
$3,943 MX$73.9K
-60.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,558 $1,558
$6,158 MX$115.4K
-74.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amarillo, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,763 $3,763
$735 MX$13.8K
412.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.12
11.45
-46.55%

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

Last update for Amarillo, TX: October 24, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Amarillo, TX
$894
Playa del Carmen
$381 57.4% $513
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amarillo, TX
$436
Playa del Carmen
$137 68.6% $299
Groceries & Markets
Amarillo, TX
$428
Playa del Carmen
$255 40.5% $174
Eating Out
Amarillo, TX
$291
Playa del Carmen
$202 30.6% $89
Clothing & Footwear
Amarillo, TX
$98 *
Playa del Carmen
$112 14.6% $14
Sport & Entertainment
Amarillo, TX
$65
Playa del Carmen
$67 3.4% $2.2
Getting Around
Amarillo, TX
$34 *
Playa del Carmen
$50 46.6% $16

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $911 in Amarillo, TX versus $980 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 in Amarillo, TX are about 5.1 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $68 in Amarillo, TX versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $428 vs $255 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Amarillo, TX
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
22:21 10:21 PM
23:21 11:21 PM
1 h ahead of Amarillo, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
198,645
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 18.74 MXN (100 MXN = 5.34 USD). 1 EUR = 21 MXN (100 MXN = 4.76 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Amarillo, TX Playa del Carmen 2,160 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Amarillo, TX
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Amarillo, TX vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Amarillo, TX and in Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,247 in Amarillo, TX, $1,204 in Playa del Carmen – Playa del Carmen comes out roughly 46% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Amarillo, TX compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,370 per month in Amarillo, TX and $1,806 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do apartment prices compare in Amarillo, TX and in Playa del Carmen?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $911 in Amarillo, TX and $980 in Playa del Carmen. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How do commuting costs compare in Amarillo, TX and in Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 12% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Amarillo, TX and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $715 per month in Amarillo, TX and $207 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Amarillo, TX at $2,247. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Amarillo, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Amarillo, TX and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,204 in Playa del Carmen to $2,247 in Amarillo, TX. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Amarillo, TX and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Amarillo, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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