😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $891 in Adma.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,414 in Adma.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,937 in Adma.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 41% more expensive than in Adma, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen6% lower, Adma33% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Adma
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$210
$10.67LBP 954.5K
12.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$733
$59.2LBP 5.3M
-29.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$189
$7.81LBP 699.0K
37.64%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$61.3
$3.23LBP 289.2K
8.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.41
$1.58LBP 141.0K
-8.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.52
$0.93LBP 83.6K
-5.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.7
$3.59LBP 321.1K
-17.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$79.1
$4.99LBP 446.5K
-9.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Adma
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$25.12
$1.79LBP 160.0K
-20.11%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$32.23
$0.79LBP 70.6K
132.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.51
$1.84LBP 164.7K
-14.67%
Eggs
$2.51MX$44.06
$3.09LBP 276.5K
-18.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$145
$11.48LBP 1.0M
-27.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$148
$9.35LBP 837.2K
-9.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$187
$11.39LBP 1.0M
-6.23%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.76
$1.79LBP 160.5K
45.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.22
$1.47LBP 131.7K
-2.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.41
$1.13LBP 101.4K
73.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.74
$1.10LBP 98.0K
90.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.47
$0.93LBP 83.2K
98.92%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$38.02
$1.00LBP 89.6K
117.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$18.09
$0.81LBP 72.9K
27.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.84
$0.56LBP 49.9K
91.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$72.0
$2.53LBP 226.0K
62.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$178
$10.08LBP 902.0K
0.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.38
$1.24LBP 110.5K
35.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$44.31
$2.14LBP 191.8K
18.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Adma
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.93
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$457
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.7
$4.99LBP 446.3K
-35.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$42.19
$1.22LBP 109.6K
97.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.6
$20.09LBP 1.8M
-83.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.17
$0.95LBP 85.1K
38.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$520.9K
$34.9KLBP 3.1B
-14.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$415.0K
$28.4KLBP 2.5B
-16.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Adma
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,439
$217LBP 19.4M
-62.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$403
$36.98LBP 3.3M
-37.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$528
$36.94LBP 3.3M
-18.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Adma
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$912
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$325
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$87.3
$7.86LBP 703.9K
-36.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Adma
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,463
$307LBP 27.5M
-35.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$93.6K
$4,491LBP 402.0M
18.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Adma
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$624
$71.5LBP 6.4M
-50.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$707
$44.93LBP 4.0M
-10.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,381
$120LBP 10.8M
-34.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,560
$94.0LBP 8.4M
-5.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Adma
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.6K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,314
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.8K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$71.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$113.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Adma
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
11.16
2.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Last update for Adma: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $59.0 in Adma. Groceries flip the comparison at $249 vs $234, with Adma 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 Adma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Adma cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Adma is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,884 in Playa del Carmen and $1,337 in Adma to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $197 in Playa del Carmen versus $307 in Adma. 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 Adma?
Dining out is cheaper in Adma – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $42.00 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 Adma?
At $891 in Adma versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Adma but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Adma the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Adma more family-friendly?
For families, Adma 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Adma gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% 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