๐A single person spends $2,182 per month in Amarillo, TX vs $1,262 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $3,356 per month in Amarillo, TX vs $2,158 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $4,531 per month in Amarillo, TX vs $3,054 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐Amarillo, TX costs about 73% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Amarillo, TX sits 62% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Amarillo, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.76$14.76
$11.61MX$201
27.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.7$70.7
$42.75MX$742
65.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.18$13.18
$10.60MX$184
24.34%
Cappuccino
$5.53$5.53
$3.59MX$62.3
54.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01$2.01
$1.45MX$25.21
38.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03$2.03
$0.90MX$15.58
125.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40$3.40
$3.03MX$52.6
12.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.96$6.96
$4.56MX$79.2
52.63%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Amarillo, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12$1.12
$1.45MX$25.20
-22.76%
White Bread(500g)
$4.06$4.06
$1.83MX$31.72
121.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.17$3.17
$1.61MX$27.92
96.89%
Eggs
$4.44$4.44
$2.54MX$44.05
74.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.13$18.13
$8.54MX$148
112.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.82$11.82
$8.47MX$147
39.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.18$17.18
$10.86MX$189
58.20%
Apples(1kg)
$4.24$4.24
$2.73MX$47.37
55.31%
Banana(1kg)
$2.03$2.03
$1.49MX$25.91
36.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.62$4.62
$1.94MX$33.73
138.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.58$3.58
$2.16MX$37.57
65.74%
Potato(1kg)
$2.26$2.26
$1.85MX$32.05
22.16%
Onion(1kg)
$2.71$2.71
$2.19MX$38.00
23.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46$1.46
$1.07MX$18.62
36.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.60$2.60
$1.08MX$18.81
140.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.94$8.94
$4.06MX$70.5
120.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.07$12.07
$10.46MX$182
15.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05$2.05
$1.65MX$28.71
24.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91$2.91
$2.55MX$44.23
14.12%
๐ Getting Around
Amarillo, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.99$0.99
$0.56MX$9.65
76.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.20MX$455
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.42$3.42
$3.14MX$54.5
8.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.65$1.65
$2.37MX$41.17
-30.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.62$29.62
$3.24MX$56.2
814.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.71$0.71
$1.31MX$22.81
-45.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.3K$19.3K
$30.5KMX$530.2K
-36.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K$23.2K
$23.8KMX$413.6K
-2.60%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amarillo, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$231$231
$83.1MX$1,443
177.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.6$51.6
$22.15MX$385
132.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$77.7$77.7
$29.37MX$510
164.59%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Amarillo, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.09$20.09
$51.2MX$889
-60.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.69MX$324
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.89$9.89
$4.89MX$84.9
102.25%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Amarillo, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$707$707
$199MX$3,449
255.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.2K$23.2K
$5,207MX$90.4K
346.00%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Amarillo, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.67$49.67
$35.93MX$624
38.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.70$40.70
$39.39MX$684
3.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.3$68.3
$80.3MX$1,394
-15.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.2$86.2
$87.6MX$1,520
-1.51%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Amarillo, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,175$1,175
$963MX$16.7K
21.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$952$952
$482MX$8,370
97.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,993$1,993
$1,645MX$28.6K
21.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,976$1,976
$1,192MX$20.7K
65.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,690$1,690
$3,957MX$68.7K
-57.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,886$1,886
$6,513MX$113.1K
-71.04%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Amarillo, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,738$3,738
$726MX$12.6K
414.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.45
11.42
-43.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Amarillo, TX: April 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $1,175 in Amarillo, TX versus $963 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.
๐ฐSalaries run about 415% higher in Amarillo, TX, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $71 in Amarillo, TX versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $406 vs $253 โ making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,182 in Amarillo, TX, $1,262 in Playa del Carmen โ roughly 73% apart. Amarillo, TX costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Amarillo, TX compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,272 per month in Amarillo, TX and $1,894 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Amarillo, TX and 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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Amarillo, TX and $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafรฉ pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 61% more in Amarillo, TX, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
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 $1,262, than in Amarillo, TX at $2,182. 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 $1,262 in Playa del Carmen to $2,182 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, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Amarillo, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Amarillo, TX vs other spots: cost of living compared