Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Amarillo, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Amarillo, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,262 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,182 in Amarillo, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,158 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,356 in Amarillo, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,054 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,531 in Amarillo, TX, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 42% cheaper than Amarillo, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Amarillo, TX is 62% above โ€“ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Amarillo, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61 MX$201
$14.76 $14.76
-21.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$742
$70.7 $70.7
-39.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.60 MX$184
$13.18 $13.18
-19.58%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.3
$5.53 $5.53
-35.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.21
$2.01 $2.01
-27.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 MX$15.58
$2.03 $2.03
-55.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$52.6
$3.40 $3.40
-10.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56 MX$79.2
$6.96 $6.96
-34.48%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Amarillo, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 MX$25.20
$1.12 $1.12
29.46%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 MX$31.72
$4.06 $4.06
-54.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.92
$3.17 $3.17
-49.21%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$44.05
$4.44 $4.44
-42.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.54 MX$148
$18.13 $18.13
-52.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.47 MX$147
$11.82 $11.82
-28.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$189
$17.18 $17.18
-36.79%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 MX$47.37
$4.24 $4.24
-35.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.91
$2.03 $2.03
-26.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 MX$33.73
$4.62 $4.62
-58.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.57
$3.58 $3.58
-39.66%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$32.05
$2.26 $2.26
-18.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$38.00
$2.71 $2.71
-19.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.62
$1.46 $1.46
-26.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.81
$2.60 $2.60
-58.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06 MX$70.5
$8.94 $8.94
-54.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.46 MX$182
$12.07 $12.07
-13.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 MX$28.71
$2.05 $2.05
-19.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 MX$44.23
$2.91 $2.91
-12.37%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Amarillo, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.56 MX$9.65
$0.99 $0.99
-43.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.20 MX$455
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$54.5
$3.42 $3.42
-8.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.37 MX$41.17
$1.65 $1.65
43.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$56.2
$29.62 $29.62
-89.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.81
$0.71 $0.71
84.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K MX$530.2K
$19.3K $19.3K
58.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$413.6K
$23.2K $23.2K
2.67%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Amarillo, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.1 MX$1,443
$231 $231
-63.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15 MX$385
$51.6 $51.6
-57.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37 MX$510
$77.7 $77.7
-62.21%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Amarillo, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.2 MX$889
$20.09 $20.09
154.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 MX$324
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.89 MX$84.9
$9.89 $9.89
-50.56%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Amarillo, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$199 MX$3,449
$707 $707
-71.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,207 MX$90.4K
$23.2K $23.2K
-77.58%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Amarillo, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93 MX$624
$49.67 $49.67
-27.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39 MX$684
$40.70 $40.70
-3.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.3 MX$1,394
$68.3 $68.3
17.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6 MX$1,520
$86.2 $86.2
1.53%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Amarillo, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.7K
$1,175 $1,175
-17.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 MX$8,370
$952 $952
-49.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,645 MX$28.6K
$1,993 $1,993
-17.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,192 MX$20.7K
$1,976 $1,976
-39.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,957 MX$68.7K
$1,690 $1,690
134.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,513 MX$113.1K
$1,886 $1,886
245.34%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Amarillo, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$726 MX$12.6K
$3,738 $3,738
-80.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.45
77.05%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

Last update for Amarillo, TX: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,175 in Amarillo, TX. 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 415% higher in Amarillo, TX, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $71 in Amarillo, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $406 โ€“ making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Amarillo, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and Amarillo, TX compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,262 in Playa del Carmen, $2,182 in Amarillo, TX โ€“ roughly 73% apart. Amarillo, TX costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Amarillo, TX?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,894 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,272 in Amarillo, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ€“ not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Playa del Carmen and Amarillo, TX?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen and $71.0 in Amarillo, TX. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafรฉ pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 61% more in Amarillo, TX, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,262, than in Amarillo, TX at $2,182. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Amarillo, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Amarillo, TX?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,262 in Playa del Carmen to $2,182 in Amarillo, TX. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Amarillo, TX?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Amarillo, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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