Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Ames, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Ames, IA

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Playa del Carmen is 29.6% cheaper than Ames, IA without rent, and 39.3% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Playa del Carmen is 39.1% cheaper than Ames, IA without rent, and 27.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ames, IA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$227
$18.07 $18.07
-33.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.47 MX$803
$44.34 $44.34
-4.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.47 MX$198
$9.04 $9.04
15.82%
Cappuccino
$3.6 MX$68.2
$5.27 $5.27
-31.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 MX$27.16
$1.95 $1.95
-26.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 MX$16.79
$1.74 $1.74
-48.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$58.5
$2.99 $2.99
3.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 MX$86.6
$6.94 $6.94
-34.01%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ames, IA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$26.04
$1.01 $1.01
36.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$34.9
$3.65 $3.65
-49.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$29.68
$3.11 $3.11
-49.52%
Eggs
$2.55 MX$48.3
$3.29 $3.29
-22.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.61 MX$163
$9.44 $9.44
-8.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.54 MX$161
$11.6 $11.6
-26.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.98 MX$208
$14.09 $14.09
-22.07%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 MX$51.4
$5.09 $5.09
-46.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$28.57
$1.15 $1.15
31.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 MX$35.63
$5.79 $5.79
-67.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.42
$5.1 $5.1
-57.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 MX$35.3
$3.76 $3.76
-50.27%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.37
$3.75 $3.75
-41.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$20.23
$1.99 $1.99
-46.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$20.64
$1.97 $1.97
-44.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 MX$74.9
$9 $9
-56.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.86 MX$167
$16.23 $16.23
-45.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$32.53
$1.71 $1.71
0.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$49.37
$4.38 $4.38
-40.41%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ames, IA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.74
$1.49 $1.49
-65.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.59 MX$503
$47.13 $47.13
-43.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$61.2
$4.9 $4.9
-33.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.38 MX$44.94
$1.39 $1.39
71.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 MX$58.7
$49.16 $49.16
-93.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$24.85
$0.8 $0.8
63.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$573K
$24.7K $24.7K
22.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24K MX$453.6K
$25.5K $25.5K
-5.99%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ames, IA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.2 MX$1,592
$189 $189
-55.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.14 MX$419
$48.48 $48.48
-54.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.14 MX$570
$74.3 $74.3
-59.42%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ames, IA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52 MX$983
$68.5 $68.5
-24.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.72 MX$354
$19.74 $19.74
-5.17%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$95.9
$13.9 $13.9
-63.53%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ames, IA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$200 MX$3,787
$1,470 $1,470
-86.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,333 MX$100.8K
$30.2K $30.2K
-82.35%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ames, IA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.74 MX$676
$38.64 $38.64
-7.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.8 MX$753
$42.65 $42.65
-6.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79 MX$1,493
$84.4 $84.4
-6.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,671
$116 $116
-23.60%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ames, IA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$965 MX$18.3K
$989 $989
-2.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,968
$837 $837
-43.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,653 MX$31.2K
$1,931 $1,931
-14.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,202 MX$22.7K
$1,676 $1,676
-28.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,081 MX$58.3K
$2,346 $2,346
31.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,529 MX$142.3K
$2,182 $2,182
245.10%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ames, IA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$792 MX$15K
$3,732 $3,732
-78.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.02
89.70%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

Last update for Ames, IA: October 28, 2025

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