🙂A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,584 in Amberg, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,760 in Amberg, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,936 in Amberg, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 21% cheaper than Amberg, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Amberg is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Amberg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$210
$13.63€11.92
-12.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$733
$34.96€30.59
19.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$189
$11.79€10.32
-8.82%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$61.3
$2.88€2.52
21.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.41
$2.15€1.88
-32.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.52
$2.52€2.20
-65.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.7
$4.50€3.94
-34.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$79.1
$4.91€4.29
-8.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Amberg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$25.12
$1.34€1.17
6.72%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$32.23
$1.35€1.18
36.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.51
$2.75€2.41
-42.91%
Eggs
$2.51MX$44.06
$2.99€2.62
-16.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$145
$14.96€13.09
-44.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$148
$13.45€11.76
-37.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$187
$7.09€6.20
50.63%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.76
$2.85€2.50
-8.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.22
$1.85€1.62
-22.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.41
$2.27€1.99
-13.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.74
$2.33€2.04
-10.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.47
$1.83€1.60
1.09%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$38.02
$1.75€1.53
24.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$18.09
$1.88€1.64
-45.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.84
$1.30€1.13
-17.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$72.0
$10.10€8.84
-59.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$178
$6.38€5.58
59.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.38
$1.10€0.96
52.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$44.31
$1.70€1.49
48.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Amberg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.93
$2.95€2.58
-82.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$457
$63.0€55.1
-58.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.7
$4.08€3.57
-20.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$42.19
$1.64€1.43
46.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.6
$28.57€25.00
-88.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.17
$2.04€1.78
-35.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$520.9K
$32.6K€28.5K
-8.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$415.0K
$36.7K€32.1K
-35.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Amberg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,439
$271€237
-69.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$403
$15.73€13.76
45.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$528
$28.17€24.65
6.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Amberg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$912
$12.63€11.05
311.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$325
$22.81€19.96
-18.76%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$87.3
$17.25€15.10
-71.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Amberg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,463
$366€320
-46.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$93.6K
$11.6K€10.1K
-53.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Amberg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$624
$78.8€69.0
-54.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$707
$48.34€42.29
-16.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,381
$63.7€55.7
23.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,560
$103€90.1
-13.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Amberg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.6K
$624€546
51.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,314
$495€433
-4.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.8K
$1,853€1,621
-11.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.2K
$1,727€1,511
-29.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$71.1K
$4,562€3,991
-11.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$113.5K
$3,396€2,971
90.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Amberg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.5K
$6,030€5,276
-89.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
3.5
226.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Last update for Amberg: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $624 in Amberg. 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 822% higher in Amberg, 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $35.00 in Amberg. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Playa del Carmen vs $283 in Amberg – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Amberg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Amberg?
Amberg costs about 26% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Amberg?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,376 in Amberg. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Amberg?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Amberg?
Kindergarten costs $197 per month in Playa del Carmen and $366 in Amberg. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or in Amberg?
Groceries cost about 14% more in Amberg, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or in Amberg?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Amberg at $1,584. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Amberg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Amberg?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,256 versus $1,584 in Amberg. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Amberg?
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.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or to Amberg?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Amberg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared