Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ayutthaya and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Ayutthaya: $745 a month against $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $5,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Ayutthaya, Thailand
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Ayutthaya
🇹🇭 Thailand
$745
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ayutthaya and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ayutthaya and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $745 per month in Ayutthaya vs $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Ayutthaya $745
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

A couple spends around $1,145 per month in Ayutthaya vs $2,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Ayutthaya $1,145
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

A family of three spends $1,545 per month in Ayutthaya vs $2,959 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Ayutthaya $1,545
  • Playa del Carmen $2,959

Ayutthaya is about 38% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Ayutthaya and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Ayutthaya 45% lower, Playa del Carmen 12% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ayutthaya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.81 ฿61.1
$10.92 MX$204
-83.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.93 ฿741
$43.37 MX$808
-49.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.90 ฿233
$11.78 MX$220
-41.43%
Cappuccino
$1.82 ฿61.6
$3.81 MX$71.0
-52.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 ฿24.33
$1.28 MX$23.90
-43.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.52
$0.78 MX$14.59
-60.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.05 ฿69.3
$3.17 MX$59.0
-35.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ฿98.6
$4.93 MX$92.0
-40.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ayutthaya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 ฿47.97
$1.41 MX$26.22
0.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.33 ฿44.86
$2.22 MX$41.33
-40.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.27 ฿42.84
$1.42 MX$26.42
-10.56%
Eggs
$1.72 ฿58.2
$2.52 MX$47.03
-31.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.11 ฿409
$7.26 MX$135
66.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.42 ฿81.6
$7.70 MX$143
-68.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.19 ฿277
$12.69 MX$237
-35.46%
Apples (1kg)
$2.49 ฿84.1
$2.78 MX$51.9
-10.43%
Banana (1kg)
$0.94 ฿31.90
$1.37 MX$25.50
-31.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.05 ฿69.3
$2.55 MX$47.55
-19.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.30 ฿43.89
$2.12 MX$39.58
-38.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.72 ฿58.3
$1.94 MX$36.13
-11.34%
Onion (1kg)
$1.05 ฿35.30
$1.89 MX$35.16
-44.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.86 ฿62.7
$1.15 MX$21.37
61.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41 ฿13.68
$1.18 MX$21.98
-65.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38 ฿148
$4.30 MX$80.1
1.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.28 ฿482
$9.95 MX$185
43.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.57 ฿53.2
$1.58 MX$29.52
-0.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 ฿61.0
$2.67 MX$49.79
-32.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Ayutthaya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.02 ฿34.30
$0.55 MX$10.31
85.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.85 ฿400
$26.62 MX$496
-55.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.30 ฿43.98
$4.97 MX$92.6
-73.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 ฿52.7
$3.33 MX$62.1
-53.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 ฿181
$5.36 MX$99.8
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 ฿40.15
$1.44 MX$26.92
-17.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8K ฿599.9K
$20.7K MX$385.2K
-14.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K ฿891.4K
$23.5K MX$437.4K
12.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ayutthaya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.0 ฿2,600
$84.8 MX$1,581
-9.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.29 ฿314
$23.41 MX$436
-60.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.97 ฿506
$28.66 MX$534
-47.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ayutthaya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.7 ฿1,882
$57.1 MX$1,063
-2.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.79 ฿297
$28.91 MX$539
-69.60%
Cinema Ticket
$4.65 ฿157
$5.14 MX$95.8
-9.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ayutthaya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$181 ฿6,105
$207 MX$3,851
-12.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,814 ฿297.7K
$3,927 MX$73.2K
124.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ayutthaya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.6 ฿2,283
$43.35 MX$808
55.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.74 ฿1,308
$41.44 MX$772
-6.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.0 ฿2,532
$74.2 MX$1,383
1.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.6 ฿1,980
$89.3 MX$1,664
-34.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ayutthaya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$218 ฿7,364
$980 MX$18.3K
-77.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$163 ฿5,518
$381 MX$7,099
-57.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿17.0K
$1,708 MX$31.8K
-70.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$290 ฿9,806
$1,075 MX$20.0K
-72.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,626 ฿54.9K
$3,943 MX$73.5K
-58.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,399 ฿47.2K
$6,158 MX$114.8K
-77.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ayutthaya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$807 ฿27.3K
$735 MX$13.7K
9.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.75
11.45
-67.25%

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

Last update for Ayutthaya: October 25, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Ayutthaya
$205
Playa del Carmen
$255 24.3% $50
Accommodation & Living
Ayutthaya
$163
Playa del Carmen
$381 133% $217
Clothing & Footwear
Ayutthaya
$108
Playa del Carmen
$112 3.5% $3.7
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ayutthaya
$101
Playa del Carmen
$137 35.1% $36
Eating Out
Ayutthaya
$77
Playa del Carmen
$202 162% $125
Sport & Entertainment
Ayutthaya
$65
Playa del Carmen
$67 3.5% $2.3
Getting Around
Ayutthaya
$25
Playa del Carmen
$50 102% $25

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $218 in Ayutthaya versus $980 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.

Salaries run about 10% higher in Ayutthaya, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22 in Ayutthaya versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $255 – making Ayutthaya the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Ayutthaya
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
01:01 1:01 AM
13:01 1:01 PM
12 h behind Ayutthaya
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
50,830
149,923
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ayutthaya Playa del Carmen 16,040 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ayutthaya
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Ayutthaya vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ayutthaya cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 62%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,117 per month in Ayutthaya and $1,806 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ayutthaya, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $218 there versus $980 in Playa del Carmen.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $181 per month in Ayutthaya and $207 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Ayutthaya and in Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 24% 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.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ayutthaya or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ayutthaya, where all-in costs run around $745, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,204. In Ayutthaya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ayutthaya or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ayutthaya – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Ayutthaya is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and the 62% gap matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

Ayutthaya vs other spots: cost of living compared

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