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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $503 in Amol versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $770 in Amol versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,037 in Amol versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Amol costs roughly 61% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Amol 62% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amol
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.04 $3.04
$11.73 MX$203
-74.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.22 $18.22
$41.62 MX$720
-56.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.05 $4.05
$10.64 MX$184
-61.94%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.48 $0.48
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 $0.76
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.31 $1.31
$3.52 MX$60.9
-62.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 $0.42
$1.51 MX$26.12
-72.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 $0.75
$0.97 MX$16.84
-22.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.95 MX$51.0
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.45 MX$77.0
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amol
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.38 $0.38
$1.38 MX$23.93
-72.46%
White Bread (500g)
$0.34 $0.34
$1.89 MX$32.72
-82.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.64 MX$28.32
-4.88%
Eggs
$0.94 $0.94
$2.51 MX$43.34
-62.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.53 $3.53
$8.34 MX$144
-57.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.24 $3.24
$8.34 MX$144
-61.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 $10.88
$10.73 MX$186
1.40%
Apples (1kg)
$0.86 $0.86
$2.60 MX$45.04
-66.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.46 MX$25.20
-
Oranges (1kg)
$0.53 $0.53
$1.90 MX$32.87
-72.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.63 $0.63
$2.08 MX$35.91
-69.71%
Potato (1kg)
$0.35 $0.35
$1.78 MX$30.71
-80.34%
Onion (1kg)
$0.35 $0.35
$2.19 MX$37.80
-84.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.42 $0.42
$1.04 MX$17.99
-59.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.21 $0.21
$1.08 MX$18.62
-80.56%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$0.57 $0.57
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.39 $0.39
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 $1.42
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$0.97 $0.97
$4.08 MX$70.6
-76.23%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$10.32 MX$178
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.71 MX$29.61
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.58 MX$44.54
-
🚌 Getting Around
Amol
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.14 $0.14
$0.51 MX$8.81
-72.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.60 $7.60
$26.46 MX$458
-71.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.16 $0.16
$3.26 MX$56.4
-95.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.27 $0.27
$2.49 MX$43.09
-89.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.96 $2.96
$3.25 MX$56.2
-8.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.72 $0.72
$1.31 MX$22.61
-45.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.9K $50.9K
$30.3K MX$523.7K
68.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$54.8K $54.8K
$23.4K MX$405.3K
133.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amol
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$15.59 $15.59
$82.9 MX$1,433
-81.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$1.50 $1.50
$22.22 MX$384
-93.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.93 $5.93
$29.34 MX$507
-79.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amol
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.15 $14.15
$51.6 MX$893
-72.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.20 $16.20
$18.32 MX$317
-11.57%
Cinema Ticket
$1.52 $1.52
$5.07 MX$87.6
-70.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amol
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$127 $127
$201 MX$3,473
-36.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,938 $1,938
$5,212 MX$90.1K
-62.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amol
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.09 $15.09
$36.92 MX$639
-59.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.94 $22.94
$39.79 MX$688
-42.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 $121
$78.5 MX$1,357
54.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.7 $50.7
$87.1 MX$1,506
-41.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amol
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$344 $344
$973 MX$16.8K
-64.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$198 $198
$468 MX$8,090
-57.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$909 $909
$1,641 MX$28.4K
-44.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$303 $303
$1,221 MX$21.1K
-75.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$896 $896
$3,946 MX$68.3K
-77.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$415 $415
$6,498 MX$112.4K
-93.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amol
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$240 $240
$664 MX$11.5K
-63.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
22
11.42
92.64%

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

Last update for Amol: June 2, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $344 in Amol and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 177% 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: $18.00 in Amol vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $101 vs $249 per month, with Amol cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Amol vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Amol and Playa del Carmen?
Amol and Playa del Carmen differ by about 158% in total monthly costs ($503 vs $1,297 including rent). Amol is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Playa del Carmen earns 177% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Amol and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $344 in Amol versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Amol or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $503 per month in Amol versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – a 158% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Amol and Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Amol runs roughly 248% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $503 in Amol versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Amol but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Amol the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Amol and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Amol or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Amol gentler on the wallet – expenses run 158% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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