😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,019 in Adma.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,279 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,596 in Adma.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,292 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,172 in Adma.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 24% more expensive than in Adma, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen7% lower, Adma26% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Adma
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$12.05LBP 1.1M
-3.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$812
$64.8LBP 5.8M
-27.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$9.81LBP 878.3K
21.10%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.6
$4.67LBP 418.2K
-14.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.60
$2.38LBP 213.2K
-39.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.22
$0.88LBP 78.8K
-6.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$55.0
$5.12LBP 458.2K
-37.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$4.96LBP 443.9K
36.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Adma
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.89
$1.92LBP 172.1K
-12.50%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.88
$0.82LBP 73.8K
168.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.45
$2.16LBP 193.1K
-20.83%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.26
$3.50LBP 312.9K
-21.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$13.42LBP 1.2M
-28.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$10.79LBP 966.1K
-16.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$14.00LBP 1.3M
-8.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.81
$2.97LBP 265.7K
-2.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.81
$1.73LBP 154.7K
-13.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.03
$1.69LBP 151.5K
27.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.96
$1.49LBP 133.1K
51.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.15
$1.34LBP 120.4K
47.76%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.30
$1.66LBP 148.2K
19.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.28
$1.21LBP 108.7K
1.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.63
$0.73LBP 65.3K
64.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.5
$3.04LBP 272.1K
49.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$9.85LBP 881.2K
5.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.91
$1.29LBP 115.1K
25.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.67
$2.48LBP 222.3K
16.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Adma
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.35
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$497
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.9
$5.06LBP 452.5K
6.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.3
$2.21LBP 198.0K
68.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.5
$22.86LBP 2.0M
-74.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.48
$1.01LBP 90.1K
52.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.8K
$53.6KLBP 4.8B
-57.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$449.3K
$32.5KLBP 2.9B
-19.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Adma
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,576
$233LBP 20.9M
-60.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$435
$22.97LBP 2.1M
9.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$539
$37.90LBP 3.4M
-17.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Adma
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,159
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$502
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.8
$10.16LBP 909.0K
-52.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Adma
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,856
$691LBP 61.8M
-67.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.9K
$10.6KLBP 946.6M
-60.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Adma
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$812
$68.2LBP 6.1M
-30.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$764
$49.07LBP 4.4M
-9.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,381
$140LBP 12.5M
-42.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,598
$122LBP 10.9M
-24.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Adma
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,728
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.1K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
-
-
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
Adma
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
11
4.09%
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 Adma: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $65.0 in Adma for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 vs $278 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
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 Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,899 in Playa del Carmen and $1,529 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 $224 in Playa del Carmen versus $691 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 $65.0 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 Adma?
At $1,019 in Adma versus $1,266 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 24% 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