😐A single person spends $1,677 per month in Amora vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,421 per month in Amora vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,164 per month in Amora vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Amora costs about 34% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Amora sits 26% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.83€12.11
$11.99MX$209
15.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.36€40.60
$41.78MX$728
10.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.60€9.28
$10.75MX$187
-1.40%
Cappuccino
$2.88€2.52
$3.50MX$60.9
-17.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.96
$1.45MX$25.22
54.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.37
$0.88MX$15.41
78.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.64€2.31
$2.95MX$51.3
-10.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.02
$4.51MX$78.6
-23.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.95
$1.43MX$24.94
-23.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81€1.59
$1.84MX$31.99
-1.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.02€1.77
$1.57MX$27.31
28.66%
Eggs
$3.26€2.85
$2.51MX$43.74
29.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.05€9.68
$8.28MX$144
33.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.77€6.80
$8.43MX$147
-7.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.32€12.55
$10.68MX$186
34.08%
Apples(1kg)
$2.41€2.11
$2.61MX$45.43
-7.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.50
$1.44MX$25.04
18.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.03€1.77
$1.96MX$34.16
3.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.44€2.14
$2.09MX$36.47
16.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.51€1.32
$1.85MX$32.24
-18.38%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.82
$2.17MX$37.74
-4.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.86€0.75
$1.03MX$17.96
-16.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$1.07MX$18.70
-20.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.92€5.19
$4.10MX$71.4
44.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.79€5.07
$10.17MX$177
-43.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32€1.16
$1.68MX$29.17
-21.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89€2.53
$2.53MX$43.98
14.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Amora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.26€1.98
$0.51MX$8.87
343.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.77€36.58
$26.04MX$453
60.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.71
$3.23MX$56.3
30.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80€0.70
$2.41MX$41.88
-66.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.68€16.36
$3.23MX$56.2
478.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.76
$1.32MX$23.00
52.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6K€30.3K
$29.7KMX$517.1K
16.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K€33.8K
$23.7KMX$412.0K
62.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€128
$82.0MX$1,428
78.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.91€18.31
$22.95MX$400
-8.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.40€39.76
$30.11MX$524
50.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.45€38.05
$52.0MX$905
-16.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.53MX$323
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.34€8.18
$4.98MX$86.6
87.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$621€544
$197MX$3,438
214.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1K€14.1K
$5,336MX$92.9K
201.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.6
$35.60MX$620
193.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.89€34.06
$40.33MX$702
-3.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.2€83.3
$78.8MX$1,371
20.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4€80.1
$88.9MX$1,549
2.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$941€825
$947MX$16.5K
-0.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$744€652
$474MX$8,254
56.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,481€1,297
$1,644MX$28.6K
-9.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,139€997
$1,211MX$21.1K
-5.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,844€2,491
$4,056MX$70.6K
-29.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,543€2,227
$6,470MX$112.7K
-60.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$654MX$11.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
11.42
-66.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Amora: July 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $941 in Amora versus $947 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 $46.00 in Amora versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $254 vs $249 – making Playa del Carmen 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 34% 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 $2,516 per month in Amora and $1,884 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 $46.00 in Amora and $42.00 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 $1,677 in Amora and $1,256 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 $1,256, than in Amora at $1,677. 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 $1,256 versus $1,677 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.