Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Ambato Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Ambato

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $677 in Ambato, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,028 in Ambato, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,379 in Ambato, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 86% more than Ambato, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Ambato are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Ambato 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 MX$203

$3.07 $3.07

281.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.89 MX$725

$24.73 $24.73

69.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 MX$182

$5.16 $5.16

103.68%

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.0

$2.48 $2.48

44.76%

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

$1.51 MX$26.10

$0.81 $0.81

86.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 MX$15.83

$0.65 $0.65

41.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 MX$51.2

$1.99 $1.99

48.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 MX$76.3

$3.57 $3.57

23.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MX$24.16

$0.97 $0.97

44.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.60

$1.03 $1.03

82.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 MX$26.97

$1.58 $1.58

-1.27%

Eggs

$2.61 MX$45.14

$2.04 $2.04

27.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 MX$144

$3.07 $3.07

171.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.35 MX$145

$2.95 $2.95

183.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 MX$188

$4.02 $4.02

170.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 MX$46.93

$1.02 $1.02

165.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$26.04

$0.97 $0.97

55.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.41

$0.97 $0.97

92.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.89

$1.02 $1.02

114.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.14

$1.02 $1.02

82.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.59

$1.01 $1.01

120.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.48

$0.50 $0.50

114.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.79

$1.02 $1.02

6.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.4

$5.87 $5.87

-28.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.43 MX$180

$8.96 $8.96

16.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 MX$28.68

$1.50 $1.50

10.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$45.19

$3.06 $3.06

-14.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

$0.31 $0.31

74.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

$23.73 $23.73

10.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 MX$53.3

$0.62 $0.62

396.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.61

$0.97 $0.97

147.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.1

$9.28 $9.28

-66.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.69

$0.66 $0.66

98.48%

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

$29.8K MX$515.7K

$29.7K $29.7K

0.33%

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

$23.3K MX$403.5K

$28.7K $28.7K

-18.86%

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

$81.3 MX$1,406

$39.25 $39.25

107.08%

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

$22.56 MX$390

$13.83 $13.83

63.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.05 MX$520

$30.33 $30.33

-0.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$915

$29.86 $29.86

77.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$318

$14.44 $14.44

27.35%

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MX$85.1

$6.21 $6.21

-20.77%

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

$201 MX$3,474

$253 $253

-20.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$89.5K

$2,376 $2,376

117.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.92 MX$622

$50.3 $50.3

-28.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.13 MX$694

$37.97 $37.97

5.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 MX$1,379

$86.9 $86.9

-8.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,496

$60.3 $60.3

43.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$978 MX$16.9K

$345 $345

183.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MX$8,140

$185 $185

154.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 MX$28.6K

$631 $631

161.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 MX$20.8K

$248 $248

385.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

$1,165 $1,165

239.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

$889 $889

642.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MX$11.7K

$679 $679

-0.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

42.75%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ambato: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $345 in Ambato. 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 0% higher in Ambato, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $25.00 in Ambato. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $141 – making Ambato 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 Ambato: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen costs about 86% more than Ambato, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,016 in Ambato. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $25.00 in Ambato. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $677 in Ambato. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ambato, where all-in costs run around $677, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Ambato it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ambato costs $677 versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Ambato. 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.