😐A single person spends $1,294 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,127 in Amman, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,189 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,781 in Amman, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,084 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,434 in Amman, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 15% more than Amman, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Amman are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen3% lower, Amman15% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Amman
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$204
$7.04JOD 4.98
66.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$725
$48.80JOD 34.54
-14.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.41MX$181
$7.13JOD 5.04
46.00%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$4.15JOD 2.94
-13.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46MX$25.28
$0.52JOD 0.37
180.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.84
$0.37JOD 0.26
162.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92MX$50.8
$5.62JOD 3.98
-48.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62MX$80.2
$7.07JOD 5.00
-34.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Amman
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.80
$1.49JOD 1.05
-4.03%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90MX$32.98
$0.56JOD 0.39
239.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.18
$1.68JOD 1.19
-6.55%
Eggs
$2.64MX$45.73
$2.44JOD 1.72
8.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.44MX$146
$6.74JOD 4.77
25.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.58MX$149
$6.47JOD 4.58
32.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.00MX$191
$11.54JOD 8.17
-4.68%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70MX$46.91
$2.00JOD 1.42
35.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.15
$1.77JOD 1.25
-14.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.22
$1.46JOD 1.03
30.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.69
$0.81JOD 0.58
167.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.53
$0.93JOD 0.66
101.08%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.76
$0.69JOD 0.49
223.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.76
$0.61JOD 0.43
77.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.63
$0.59JOD 0.42
81.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16MX$72.2
$3.55JOD 2.52
17.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.29MX$179
$21.57JOD 15.26
-52.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.20
$4.80JOD 3.39
-65.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.96
$5.38JOD 3.81
-52.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Amman
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55MX$9.61
$0.82JOD 0.58
-32.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.29MX$456
$42.80JOD 30.30
-38.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.20MX$55.5
$0.74JOD 0.52
332.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.73
$1.38JOD 0.98
78.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.20MX$55.5
$6.99JOD 4.95
-54.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$22.91
$1.41JOD 1.00
-6.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$523.3K
$27.3KJOD 19.3K
10.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.0K
$31.8KJOD 22.5K
-26.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Amman
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.4MX$1,412
$104JOD 73.3
-21.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.41MX$389
$16.75JOD 11.85
33.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.97MX$520
$31.39JOD 22.22
-4.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Amman
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$895
$54.8JOD 38.81
-5.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$319
$42.80JOD 30.29
-57.03%
Cinema Ticket
$5.16MX$89.6
$11.17JOD 7.91
-53.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Amman
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$202MX$3,501
$279JOD 198
-27.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,311MX$92.2K
$5,333JOD 3,774
-0.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Amman
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.61MX$618
$61.6JOD 43.57
-42.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.37MX$701
$56.5JOD 39.95
-28.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.6MX$1,365
$114JOD 81.0
-31.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.9MX$1,507
$78.8JOD 55.8
10.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Amman
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$950MX$16.5K
$463JOD 328
105.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$478MX$8,298
$302JOD 213
58.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621MX$28.1K
$786JOD 556
106.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.2K
$533JOD 377
129.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,009MX$69.6K
$1,713JOD 1,212
134.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,473MX$112.3K
$1,011JOD 715
540.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Amman
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673MX$11.7K
$697JOD 493
-3.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
7.27
57.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026
Last update for Amman: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $950 in Playa del Carmen versus $463 in Amman. 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 4% higher in Amman, 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 $49.00 in Amman. Groceries tell a different story – $254 in Playa del Carmen vs $246 in Amman – so Amman 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 Amman: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Amman?
Playa del Carmen costs about 15% more than Amman, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 Amman?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,941 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,690 in Amman. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Amman?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Amman, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen compared to Amman?
Public transport costs about 63% less in Amman. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Amman?
Kindergarten costs $202 per month in Playa del Carmen and $279 in Amman. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Amman?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Amman, where all-in costs run around $1,127, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,294. In Amman it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Amman?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Amman costs $1,127 versus $1,294 in Playa del Carmen. 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 Amman?
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 Amman?
If budget matters most, go with Amman. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared