😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $929 in 'ajlun.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,279 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,483 in 'ajlun.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,292 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,038 in 'ajlun.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 36% more expensive than in 'ajlun, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen7% lower, 'ajlun32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
'ajlun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$7.08JOD 5.01
63.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$812
$66.1JOD 46.77
-28.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$6.90JOD 4.88
72.17%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.6
$4.37JOD 3.10
-8.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.60
$0.36JOD 0.26
297.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.22
$0.41JOD 0.29
100.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$55.0
$8.24JOD 5.83
-61.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$10.82JOD 7.66
-37.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
'ajlun
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.89
$1.45JOD 1.02
15.86%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.88
$0.67JOD 0.48
228.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.45
$1.52JOD 1.07
12.50%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.26
$2.38JOD 1.68
15.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$9.42JOD 6.67
1.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$6.65JOD 4.71
35.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$12.51JOD 8.86
2.40%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.81
$1.12JOD 0.79
158.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.81
$1.16JOD 0.82
29.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.03
$1.16JOD 0.82
85.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.96
$0.79JOD 0.56
186.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.15
$0.87JOD 0.62
127.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.30
$0.70JOD 0.49
184.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.28
$0.65JOD 0.46
89.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.63
$0.61JOD 0.43
96.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.5
$3.97JOD 2.81
14.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$21.43JOD 15.17
-51.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.91
$5.23JOD 3.70
-69.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.67
$5.04JOD 3.57
-42.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
'ajlun
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.35
$0.58JOD 0.41
3.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$497
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.9
$0.63JOD 0.45
755.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.3
$1.45JOD 1.03
157.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.5
$6.88JOD 4.87
-16.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.48
$1.62JOD 1.15
-4.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.8K
$35.5KJOD 25.1K
-36.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$449.3K
$34.7KJOD 24.5K
-24.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
'ajlun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,576
$50.0JOD 35.41
82.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$435
$14.19JOD 10.05
77.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$539
$27.84JOD 19.71
12.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
'ajlun
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,159
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$502
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.8
$11.33JOD 8.02
-57.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
'ajlun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,856
$493JOD 349
-54.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.9K
$9,528JOD 6,746
-55.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
'ajlun
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$812
$64.2JOD 45.47
-26.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$764
$82.0JOD 58.0
-45.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,381
$126JOD 89.2
-36.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,598
$85.8JOD 60.8
7.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
'ajlun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$281JOD 199
278.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,728
$208JOD 147
87.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.1K
$417JOD 295
415.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
$278JOD 196
358.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
'ajlun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
$699JOD 495
8.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
6.81
68.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Last update for 'ajlun: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen and $281 in 'ajlun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 9% 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: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $66.0 in 'ajlun. Groceries flip the comparison at $276 vs $250, with 'ajlun cheaper for home cooking.
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
Playa del Carmen vs 'ajlun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'ajlun cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
'ajlun is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or 'ajlun?
Average pay runs 9% higher in Playa del Carmen, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and 'ajlun?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $281 in 'ajlun. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $224 in Playa del Carmen versus $493 in 'ajlun. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in 'ajlun?
Dining out is cheaper in 'ajlun – a meal for two runs $66.0 versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in 'ajlun?
At $929 in 'ajlun versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in 'ajlun but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes 'ajlun the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or 'ajlun more family-friendly?
For families, 'ajlun is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or 'ajlun?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and 'ajlun are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find 'ajlun gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared