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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,261 per month in Amarillo, TX vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,532 per month in Amarillo, TX vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,804 per month in Amarillo, TX vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Amarillo, TX costs about 79% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Amarillo, TX sits 65% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amarillo, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.18 $15.18
$11.60 MX$200
30.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.6 $66.6
$47.11 MX$812
41.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.88 $12.88
$11.88 MX$205
8.42%
Cappuccino
$6.91 $6.91
$3.98 MX$68.6
73.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 $2.29
$1.43 MX$24.60
60.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 $1.59
$0.82 MX$14.22
93.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.98 $3.98
$3.19 MX$55.0
24.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91 $6.91
$6.79 MX$117
1.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amarillo, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 $1.21
$1.68 MX$28.89
-27.98%
White Bread (500g)
$3.28 $3.28
$2.20 MX$37.88
49.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.42 $3.42
$1.71 MX$29.45
100.00%
Eggs
$4.28 $4.28
$2.74 MX$47.26
56.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.23 $16.23
$9.58 MX$165
69.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.42 $12.42
$9.01 MX$155
37.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$28.11 $28.11
$12.81 MX$221
119.44%
Apples (1kg)
$4.17 $4.17
$2.89 MX$49.81
44.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.87 $1.87
$1.50 MX$25.81
24.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.72 $4.72
$2.15 MX$37.03
119.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.81 $3.81
$2.26 MX$38.96
68.58%
Potato (1kg)
$2.16 $2.16
$1.98 MX$34.15
9.09%
Onion (1kg)
$2.91 $2.91
$1.99 MX$34.30
46.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.23 MX$21.28
34.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.49 $2.49
$1.20 MX$20.63
107.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.30 $9.30
$4.55 MX$78.5
104.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.05 $12.05
$10.37 MX$179
16.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.62 MX$27.91
32.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.88 MX$49.67
-29.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Amarillo, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.99 $0.99
$0.60 MX$10.35
65.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$28.80 MX$497
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$5.39 MX$92.9
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$3.73 MX$64.3
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$5.77 MX$99.5
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.54 MX$26.48
-47.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K $28.2K
$22.5K MX$388.8K
25.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K $24.9K
$26.1K MX$449.3K
-4.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amarillo, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$288 $288
$91.4 MX$1,576
215.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.0 $52.0
$25.20 MX$435
106.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$87.2 $87.2
$31.24 MX$539
179.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amarillo, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.7 $59.7
$67.2 MX$1,159
-11.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11 MX$502
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.03 $10.03
$4.86 MX$83.8
106.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amarillo, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$695 $695
$224 MX$3,856
210.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$4,229 MX$72.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amarillo, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.89 $36.89
$47.10 MX$812
-21.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$44.29 MX$764
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$58.8 $58.8
$80.1 MX$1,381
-26.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 $121
$92.7 MX$1,598
30.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amarillo, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,124 $1,124
$1,063 MX$18.3K
5.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$956 $956
$390 MX$6,728
145.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,845 $1,845
$2,149 MX$37.1K
-14.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,930 $1,930
$1,272 MX$21.9K
51.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,693 $1,693
$4,001 MX$69.0K
-57.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,879 $1,879
$6,502 MX$112.1K
-71.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amarillo, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,745 $3,745
$758 MX$13.1K
393.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.1
11.45
-46.72%

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

Last update for Amarillo, TX: September 14, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,124 in Amarillo, TX 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 394% higher in Amarillo, TX, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Amarillo, TX versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $429 vs $276 – 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 in Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,261 in Amarillo, TX, $1,266 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 79% 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 $3,391 per month in Amarillo, TX and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – 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 $67.0 in Amarillo, TX and $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 55% 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 $1,266, than in Amarillo, TX at $2,261. 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 $1,266 in Playa del Carmen to $2,261 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.

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