Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Al-'amarah Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Al-'amarah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,330 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $346 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,336 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $529 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,341 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $711 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 284% more than Al-'amarah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Al-'amarah are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Al-'amarah 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.02 MX$221

$1.86 IQD 2,441

600.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.25 MX$784

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.59 MX$213

$4.66 IQD 6,101

170.17%

Cappuccino

$4.00 MX$67.9

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

$1.42 MX$24.08

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 MX$13.73

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.05 MX$51.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.82 MX$116

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 MX$29.04

$1.84 IQD 2,413

-7.07%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 MX$37.62

$0.74 IQD 963

200.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 MX$29.13

$1.08 IQD 1,409

59.26%

Eggs

$2.71 MX$45.99

$1.52 IQD 1,991

78.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.37 MX$159

$1.98 IQD 2,591

373.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.86 MX$150

$7.62 IQD 9,973

16.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.78 MX$217

$8.04 IQD 10.5K

58.96%

Apples (1kg)

$3.13 MX$53.0

$0.91 IQD 1,186

243.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 MX$26.24

$1.06 IQD 1,387

46.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$36.51

$0.86 IQD 1,127

150.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.35 MX$39.89

$0.37 IQD 484

535.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.02 MX$34.23

$0.70 IQD 915

188.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$33.67

$0.37 IQD 490

437.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 MX$21.09

$0.48 IQD 632

158.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 MX$20.21

$0.44 IQD 572

170.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 MX$78.8

Wine (Bottle)

$10.47 MX$177

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 MX$26.82

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 MX$49.48

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 MX$9.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.76 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.32 MX$90.2

$1.61 IQD 2,104

230.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.72 MX$63.0

$1.23 IQD 1,610

202.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 MX$97.9

$9.96 IQD 13.0K

-41.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MX$26.27

$0.30 IQD 399

416.67%

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

$22.4K MX$379.1K

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

$25.6K MX$433.3K

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

26.12%

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

$89.3 MX$1,513

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

$23.30 MX$395

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.72 MX$538

$27.02 IQD 35.4K

17.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,165

$22.31 IQD 29.2K

208.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.40 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$5.06 MX$85.7

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

$222 MX$3,765

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,293 MX$72.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.21 MX$783

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.43 MX$753

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.5 MX$1,618

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.5 MX$1,568

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,069 MX$18.1K

$320 IQD 419.6K

233.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 MX$6,663

$130 IQD 170.8K

201.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,988 MX$33.7K

$448 IQD 586.8K

343.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,304 MX$22.1K

$246 IQD 322.5K

429.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,037 MX$68.4K

$571 IQD 747.7K

607.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,627 MX$112.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$747 MX$12.7K

$493 IQD 645.4K

51.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.6

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026

Last update for Al-'amarah: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $320 in Al-'amarah. 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 52% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Al-'amarah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 284%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,995 per month in Playa del Carmen and $519 in Al-'amarah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Al-'amarah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,330 in Playa del Carmen and $346 in Al-'amarah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 112% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-'amarah, where all-in costs run around $346, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,330. In Al-'amarah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al-'amarah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Al-'amarah. 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.