😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,684 in Amiens versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,522 in Amiens versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,360 in Amiens versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Amiens is roughly 33% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Amiens is 23% above, Playa del Carmen is 7% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amiens
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.45€15.21
$11.60MX$200
50.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.5€51.0
$47.11MX$812
24.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.69€11.06
$11.88MX$205
6.82%
Cappuccino
$2.94€2.56
$3.98MX$68.6
-26.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96€2.58
$1.43MX$24.60
106.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70€1.48
$0.82MX$14.22
107.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.49€5.66
$3.19MX$55.0
103.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.65€4.93
$6.79MX$117
-16.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amiens
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.51€1.31
$1.68MX$28.89
-10.12%
White Bread(500g)
$2.73€2.38
$2.20MX$37.88
24.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.63€2.29
$1.71MX$29.45
53.80%
Eggs
$3.92€3.41
$2.74MX$47.26
43.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.29€8.97
$9.58MX$165
7.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.22€10.65
$9.01MX$155
35.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.81€14.65
$12.81MX$221
31.23%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$2.89MX$49.81
-18.69%
Banana(1kg)
$2.03€1.77
$1.50MX$25.81
35.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.17€2.76
$2.15MX$37.03
47.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.05€2.66
$2.26MX$38.96
34.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.67€1.46
$1.98MX$34.15
-15.66%
Onion(1kg)
$1.88€1.64
$1.99MX$34.30
-5.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13€0.98
$1.23MX$21.28
-8.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.69
$1.20MX$20.63
-34.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.51€11.78
$4.55MX$78.5
196.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.83€5.09
$10.37MX$179
-43.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75€1.52
$1.62MX$27.91
8.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96€2.58
$2.88MX$49.67
2.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Amiens
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.96€1.71
$0.60MX$10.35
226.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.9€46.97
$28.80MX$497
87.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.31€2.01
$5.39MX$92.9
-57.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€1.00
$3.73MX$64.3
-69.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.49€29.19
$5.77MX$99.5
480.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.83
$1.54MX$26.48
35.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7K€31.1K
$22.5KMX$388.8K
58.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.4K€31.7K
$26.1KMX$449.3K
39.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amiens
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$220€192
$91.4MX$1,576
141.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.02€26.17
$25.20MX$435
19.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.38€32.58
$31.24MX$539
19.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amiens
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.98€27.87
$67.2MX$1,159
-52.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11MX$502
-
Cinema Ticket
$19.02€16.58
$4.86MX$83.8
291.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amiens
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$928€809
$224MX$3,856
315.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$4,229MX$72.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amiens
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2€47.21
$47.10MX$812
14.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.19€40.26
$44.29MX$764
4.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.2€74.3
$80.1MX$1,381
6.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.3€79.6
$92.7MX$1,598
-1.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amiens
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$718€626
$1,063MX$18.3K
-32.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$519€453
$390MX$6,728
33.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,102€960
$2,149MX$37.1K
-48.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$934€814
$1,272MX$21.9K
-26.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,602€3,140
$4,001MX$69.0K
-9.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,278€1,985
$6,502MX$112.1K
-64.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amiens
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,387€2,080
$758MX$13.1K
214.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.36
11.45
-70.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Amiens: September 15, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $718 in Amiens and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Amiens pays 215% 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: $59.0 in Amiens vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $312 vs $276 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
Amiens vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Amiens or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 33% lower than in Amiens. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Amiens or in Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 215% higher in Amiens, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Amiens compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $718 in Amiens versus $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Amiens and in Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $928 in Amiens versus $224 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Amiens or in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Amiens. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Amiens or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,684 in Amiens, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Amiens. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Amiens or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,266 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Amiens compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Amiens 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Amiens. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.