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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $630 per month in Amwaj vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,939 per month in Amwaj vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Amwaj vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Amwaj is about 50% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Amwaj and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Amwaj 53% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.29 BHD 1.99

$11.99 MX$210

-55.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$733

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.31 BHD 3.51

$10.75 MX$189

-13.40%

Cappuccino

$2.61 BHD 0.98

$3.50 MX$61.3

-25.43%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 BHD 0.39

$1.45 MX$25.41

-28.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 BHD 0.25

$0.88 MX$15.52

-23.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.98 BHD 3.01

$2.95 MX$51.7

170.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.67 BHD 4.02

$4.51 MX$79.1

136.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$25.12

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$32.23

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$27.51

Eggs

$2.51 MX$44.06

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 MX$145

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.22 BHD 3.85

$8.43 MX$148

21.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 MX$187

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 MX$45.76

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.22

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$34.41

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$36.74

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.47

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$38.02

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MX$18.09

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.84

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.31 BHD 2.00

$4.10 MX$72.0

29.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.38

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$44.31

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.93

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$457

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$42.19

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$23.17

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.7K MX$520.9K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$36.4K BHD 13.7K

$23.7K MX$415.0K

53.95%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$161 BHD 60.6

$82.0 MX$1,439

96.06%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$26.98 BHD 10.17

$22.95 MX$403

17.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 BHD 24.93

$30.11 MX$528

119.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$912

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$87.3

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$197 MX$3,463

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.0K BHD 4,902

$5,336 MX$93.6K

143.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.1 BHD 24.52

$35.60 MX$624

82.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.0 BHD 24.51

$40.33 MX$707

61.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.9 BHD 35.38

$78.8 MX$1,381

19.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 BHD 45.17

$88.9 MX$1,560

34.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,314

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,417 BHD 911

$1,644 MX$28.8K

47.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,114 BHD 797

$1,211 MX$21.2K

74.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$71.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$113.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,038 BHD 1,522

$654 MX$11.5K

517.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.75

11.42

-49.65%

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

Last update for Amwaj: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 518% higher in Amwaj, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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

Amwaj vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen costs about 99% more than Amwaj, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $945 per month in Amwaj and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $630 in Amwaj and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 387% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Amwaj, where all-in costs run around $630, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Amwaj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Amwaj costs $630 versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Amwaj. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.