😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,842 in Amersfoort versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,900 in Amersfoort versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,957 in Amersfoort versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Amersfoort is roughly 126% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Amersfoort is 113% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amersfoort
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.57€18.00
$11.99MX$210
71.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.9€70.8
$41.78MX$733
93.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.46€11.77
$10.75MX$189
25.21%
Cappuccino
$3.78€3.31
$3.50MX$61.3
8.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85€3.37
$1.45MX$25.41
165.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21€2.81
$0.88MX$15.52
264.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.34€5.54
$2.95MX$51.7
114.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.26€4.60
$4.51MX$79.1
16.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amersfoort
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26€1.11
$1.43MX$25.12
-11.89%
White Bread(500g)
$2.43€2.12
$1.84MX$32.23
32.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.12€2.73
$1.57MX$27.51
98.73%
Eggs
$4.74€4.14
$2.51MX$44.06
88.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.64€11.93
$8.28MX$145
64.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.17€14.15
$8.43MX$148
91.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.46€15.28
$10.68MX$187
63.48%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€2.02
$2.61MX$45.76
-11.49%
Banana(1kg)
$2.50€2.19
$1.44MX$25.22
73.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.95€1.70
$1.96MX$34.41
-0.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.83€3.35
$2.09MX$36.74
83.25%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15€1.88
$1.85MX$32.47
16.22%
Onion(1kg)
$2.21€1.93
$2.17MX$38.02
1.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.26€1.10
$1.03MX$18.09
22.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13€0.98
$1.07MX$18.84
5.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.83€12.10
$4.10MX$72.0
237.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.06€6.17
$10.17MX$178
-30.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46€1.28
$1.68MX$29.38
-13.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.47
$2.53MX$44.31
11.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Amersfoort
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$6.30€5.51
$0.51MX$8.93
1135.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$121€106
$26.04MX$457
363.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.62€3.17
$3.23MX$56.7
12.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.50€2.19
$2.41MX$42.19
3.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.95€23.58
$3.23MX$56.6
734.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.21€1.93
$1.32MX$23.17
67.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.4K
$29.7KMX$520.9K
16.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K€31.0K
$23.7KMX$415.0K
49.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amersfoort
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$287€251
$82.0MX$1,439
249.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.21€22.93
$22.95MX$403
14.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.2€45.67
$30.11MX$528
73.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amersfoort
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.69€35.60
$52.0MX$912
-21.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.92€27.05
$18.53MX$325
66.86%
Cinema Ticket
$16.27€14.24
$4.98MX$87.3
226.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amersfoort
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,151€1,882
$197MX$3,463
989.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,273€5,488
$5,336MX$93.6K
17.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amersfoort
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$108€94.5
$35.60MX$624
203.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.2€46.57
$40.33MX$707
31.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€88.6
$78.8MX$1,381
28.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€104
$88.9MX$1,560
33.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amersfoort
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,588€1,390
$947MX$16.6K
67.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,334€1,167
$474MX$8,314
181.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,151€1,882
$1,644MX$28.8K
30.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,803€1,578
$1,211MX$21.2K
48.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,380€5,582
$4,056MX$71.1K
57.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,456€4,773
$6,470MX$113.5K
-15.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amersfoort
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,922€3,431
$654MX$11.5K
499.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.39
11.42
-61.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Amersfoort: July 14, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,588 in Amersfoort and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Amersfoort pays 500% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $81.0 in Amersfoort vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $352 vs $249 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
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
Amersfoort vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Amersfoort?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 126% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Amersfoort or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 500% higher in Amersfoort, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Amersfoort and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,588 in Amersfoort versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Amersfoort or in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $81.0 in Amersfoort. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Amersfoort and in Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,842 per month in Amersfoort versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – a 126% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Amersfoort or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,842 in Amersfoort, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Amersfoort. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Amersfoort or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Amersfoort, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Amersfoort or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Amersfoort and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 126% less than in Amersfoort. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Amersfoort vs other spots: cost of living compared