🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,728 in Amadora.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,532 in Amadora.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,336 in Amadora.
🙂Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 26% less than in Amadora, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 4% below, Amadora is 29% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Amadora
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$11.65€9.97
2.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$45.65€39.08
-6.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$9.22€7.89
14.86%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$1.96€1.68
84.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$2.00€1.71
-26.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$1.48€1.27
-36.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$2.49€2.14
24.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$3.50€2.99
27.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Amadora
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.04€0.89
37.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$1.58€1.35
18.99%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$1.41€1.20
15.60%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$2.99€2.56
-11.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$11.54€9.87
-28.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$6.98€5.98
18.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$11.25€9.63
-1.33%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$1.97€1.69
34.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$1.67€1.43
-10.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$1.62€1.39
22.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$2.55€2.19
-18.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$1.51€1.29
18.54%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$1.84€1.58
18.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$1.64€1.40
-34.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.37€0.32
181.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$6.33€5.42
-37.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$5.71€4.89
78.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.32€1.13
31.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$1.14€0.97
119.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Amadora
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$2.82€2.42
-81.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
$46.23€39.58
-41.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$4.08€3.49
-23.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$0.86€0.74
179.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$16.94€14.50
-81.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.90€1.63
-33.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$23.0K€19.7K
34.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$39.5K€33.8K
-41.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Amadora
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$165€141
-50.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$21.34€18.27
5.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$29.45€25.21
0.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Amadora
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$40.21€34.42
29.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$28.63€24.51
-34.79%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$8.06€6.90
-38.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Amadora
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$343€293
-42.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$13.2K€11.3K
-60.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Amadora
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$70.6€60.4
-48.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$34.51€29.54
16.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$101€86.3
-20.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$79.5€68.1
11.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Amadora
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$966€827
-0.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$872€746
-46.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$1,709€1,463
-6.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$1,407€1,204
-14.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$3,867€3,310
1.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$3,454€2,957
86.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Amadora
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$1,448€1,240
-50.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
5.43
110.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Last update for Amadora: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $966 in Amadora. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Amadora pays 101% 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: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $46.00 in Amadora. Groceries flip the comparison at $251 vs $226, with Amadora 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 Amadora: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Amadora cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Amadora?
On paper, Amadora earns 101% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Amadora?
Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $966 in Amadora. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Amadora?
Shoppers in Amadora pay roughly 11% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or Amadora?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $46.00 in Amadora. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Amadora?
At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,728 in Amadora, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Amadora. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Amadora more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Amadora, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Amadora?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Amadora 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 Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Amadora. 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