Cost of Living Comparison Between Ambato and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Ambato and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $677 per month in Ambato vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,028 per month in Ambato vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,379 per month in Ambato vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Ambato is about 46% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ambato and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Ambato 49% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.07 $3.07

$11.72 MX$203

-73.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.73 $24.73

$41.89 MX$725

-40.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.16 $5.16

$10.51 MX$182

-50.90%

Cappuccino

$2.48 $2.48

$3.59 MX$62.0

-30.92%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.51 MX$26.10

-46.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 $0.65

$0.92 MX$15.83

-29.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.96 MX$51.2

-32.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$4.41 MX$76.3

-19.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.40 MX$24.16

-30.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.88 MX$32.60

-45.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.56 MX$26.97

1.28%

Eggs

$2.04 $2.04

$2.61 MX$45.14

-21.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.07 $3.07

$8.32 MX$144

-63.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 $2.95

$8.35 MX$145

-64.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.02 $4.02

$10.86 MX$188

-62.98%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$2.71 MX$46.93

-62.36%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.51 MX$26.04

-35.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.87 MX$32.41

-48.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$2.19 MX$37.89

-53.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.86 MX$32.14

-45.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 $1.01

$2.23 MX$38.59

-54.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 $0.50

$1.07 MX$18.48

-53.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.09 MX$18.79

-6.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.87 $5.87

$4.19 MX$72.4

40.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.96 $8.96

$10.43 MX$180

-14.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.66 MX$28.68

-9.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.61 MX$45.19

17.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.54 MX$9.37

-42.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.73 $23.73

$26.16 MX$453

-9.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 $0.62

$3.08 MX$53.3

-79.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.97 $0.97

$2.40 MX$41.61

-59.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.28 $9.28

$3.13 MX$54.1

196.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 $0.66

$1.31 MX$22.69

-49.62%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.7K $29.7K

$29.8K MX$515.7K

-0.33%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.7K $28.7K

$23.3K MX$403.5K

23.25%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$39.25 $39.25

$81.3 MX$1,406

-51.71%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.83 $13.83

$22.56 MX$390

-38.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.33 $30.33

$30.05 MX$520

0.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.86 $29.86

$52.9 MX$915

-43.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.44 $14.44

$18.39 MX$318

-21.48%

Cinema Ticket

$6.21 $6.21

$4.92 MX$85.1

26.22%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$253 $253

$201 MX$3,474

25.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,376 $2,376

$5,175 MX$89.5K

-54.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 $50.3

$35.92 MX$622

39.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.97 $37.97

$40.13 MX$694

-5.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.9 $86.9

$79.7 MX$1,379

9.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.3 $60.3

$86.5 MX$1,496

-30.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$345 $345

$978 MX$16.9K

-64.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$185 $185

$470 MX$8,140

-60.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$631 $631

$1,651 MX$28.6K

-61.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$248 $248

$1,203 MX$20.8K

-79.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,165 $1,165

$3,953 MX$68.4K

-70.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$889 $889

$6,607 MX$114.3K

-86.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$679 $679

$677 MX$11.7K

0.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

-29.95%

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

Last update for Ambato: July 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $345 in Ambato versus $978 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 0% higher in Ambato, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Ambato versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $141 vs $252 – making Ambato 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

Ambato vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen costs about 86% more than Ambato, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,016 per month in Ambato and $1,890 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ambato, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Ambato and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $677 in Ambato and $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ambato, where all-in costs run around $677, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Ambato it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ambato costs $677 versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Ambato. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.