😐A single person spends $1,788 per month in Amora vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,603 per month in Amora vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,418 per month in Amora vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Amora costs about 41% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Amora sits 31% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.06€13.92
$11.60MX$199
38.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.93€40.67
$47.11MX$808
-0.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.60€9.19
$11.88MX$204
-10.77%
Cappuccino
$2.82€2.44
$3.98MX$68.2
-29.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33€2.02
$1.43MX$24.46
62.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.52
$0.82MX$14.14
114.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.97
$3.19MX$54.7
7.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52€3.05
$6.79MX$116
-48.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17€1.01
$1.68MX$28.72
-30.36%
White Bread(500g)
$1.95€1.69
$2.20MX$37.67
-11.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75€1.52
$1.71MX$29.29
2.34%
Eggs
$3.55€3.08
$2.74MX$46.99
29.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.15€9.66
$9.58MX$164
16.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.28€7.17
$9.01MX$154
-8.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.75€13.65
$12.81MX$220
22.95%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34€2.03
$2.89MX$49.52
-19.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57€1.36
$1.50MX$25.67
4.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.91€1.65
$2.15MX$36.83
-11.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19€1.90
$2.26MX$38.74
-3.10%
Potato(1kg)
$1.60€1.39
$1.98MX$33.96
-19.19%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.82
$1.99MX$34.11
5.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46€1.26
$1.23MX$21.16
18.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.69
$1.20MX$20.52
-34.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.97€5.17
$4.55MX$78.0
31.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.75€4.98
$10.37MX$178
-44.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32€1.14
$1.62MX$27.76
-18.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17€1.88
$2.88MX$49.39
-24.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Amora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.05
$0.60MX$10.29
295.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.52€37.72
$28.80MX$494
51.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.24€1.94
$5.39MX$92.4
-58.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$3.73MX$63.9
-69.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.06€14.79
$5.77MX$98.9
195.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.81
$1.54MX$26.34
35.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.8K
$22.5KMX$386.6K
52.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K€33.5K
$26.1KMX$446.7K
48.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$139€120
$91.4MX$1,567
52.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.88€16.36
$25.20MX$432
-25.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.90€39.77
$31.24MX$536
46.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.61€36.06
$67.2MX$1,152
-38.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.45€14.25
$29.11MX$499
-43.49%
Cinema Ticket
$9.58€8.30
$4.86MX$83.4
97.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$699€606
$224MX$3,834
212.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.8K€15.4K
$4,229MX$72.5K
320.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$108€93.6
$47.10MX$808
129.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.64€33.48
$44.29MX$759
-12.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€88.2
$80.1MX$1,373
27.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127€110
$92.7MX$1,589
36.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$980€850
$1,063MX$18.2K
-7.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$798€692
$390MX$6,690
104.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,585€1,373
$2,149MX$36.8K
-26.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,216€1,054
$1,272MX$21.8K
-4.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,170€2,747
$4,001MX$68.6K
-20.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,521€2,185
$6,502MX$111.5K
-61.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$758MX$13.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.67
11.45
-67.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Amora: September 14, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $980 in Amora 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Amora versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $261 vs $276 – making Amora 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
Amora vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Amora or Playa del Carmen?
Amora costs about 41% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Amora and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,681 per month in Amora and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Amora or 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.
How do dining costs compare in Amora and in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Amora and $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Amora compared to Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,788 in Amora and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Amora or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in Amora at $1,788. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Amora it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Amora or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,266 versus $1,788 in Amora. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Amora compared to Playa del Carmen?
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.
Should I move to Amora or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Amora makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.