😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $8.16 in Ambatolampy.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $14.00 in Ambatolampy.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $20.40 in Ambatolampy.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 15668% more expensive than Ambatolampy, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen4% lower, Ambatolampy99% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ambatolampy
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$208
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$744
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$184
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.0
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.54
-
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.41
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$53.8
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$77.6
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ambatolampy
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.80
$0.84MGA 3,477
70.24%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.79
-
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.34
-
-
Eggs
$2.64MX$45.99
-
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$143
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$144
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$193
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.14
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.11
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.59
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.13
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.11
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$37.87
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.73
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.04
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.1
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$178
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.04
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.46
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ambatolampy
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.02
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$469
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$54.7
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.80
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$53.7
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.16
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$537.3K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$405.7K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ambatolampy
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,427
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$391
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$516
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ambatolampy
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$903
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$325
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$86.5
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ambatolampy
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,442
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$91.7K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ambatolampy
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$632
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$697
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,390
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,547
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ambatolampy
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.8K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,086
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.8K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$68.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ambatolampy
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
0
-
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para Ambatolampy: April 25, 2026
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Playa del Carmen vs Ambatolampy: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Ambatolampy?
Ambatolampy wins on cost – living expenses run 15668% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ambatolampy the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen vs Ambatolampy?
You'd need roughly $1,930 in Playa del Carmen and $12.24 in Ambatolampy 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.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or Ambatolampy?
Supermarket bills run roughly 2888% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Ambatolampy?
All in, you'll spend $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $8.16 in Ambatolampy – a 15668% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or Ambatolampy?
At $8.16 in Ambatolampy versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ambatolampy but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Ambatolampy the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Ambatolampy?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ambatolampy delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $8.16 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ambatolampy hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ambatolampy gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15668% 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 otros destinos: coste de vida comparado