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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $543 in Amol.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $842 in Amol.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,362 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,140 in Amol.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 140% more expensive than in Amol, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Amol 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.96 MX$203

$3.03 $3.03

294.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.38 MX$804

$16.57 $16.57

185.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.75 MX$199

$4.07 $4.07

188.70%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.48 $0.48

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 $0.83

Cappuccino

$4.12 MX$70.0

$1.32 $1.32

212.12%

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

$1.40 MX$23.74

$0.46 $0.46

204.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.48

$0.82 $0.82

10.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 MX$54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 MX$120

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.44

$0.56 $0.56

200.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 MX$36.48

$0.53 $0.53

305.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MX$30.10

$2.02 $2.02

-12.38%

Eggs

$2.82 MX$47.76

$1.23 $1.23

129.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.20 MX$156

$4.32 $4.32

112.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.23 MX$157

$3.26 $3.26

183.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.64 MX$214

$9.99 $9.99

26.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$50.1

$1.29 $1.29

128.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 MX$26.79

$1.83 $1.83

-13.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 MX$37.70

$0.74 $0.74

200.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.09

$0.72 $0.72

227.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 MX$33.81

$0.54 $0.54

268.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 MX$33.58

$0.51 $0.51

288.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 MX$21.04

$0.58 $0.58

113.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 MX$20.55

$0.29 $0.29

317.24%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.58 $0.58

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 $0.50

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 $1.28

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.60 MX$78.1

$1.02 $1.02

350.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.52 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 MX$28.70

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 MX$47.06

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.22

$0.13 $0.13

361.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$504

$9.36 $9.36

217.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.24 MX$88.8

$0.52 $0.52

907.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.65 MX$61.9

$0.29 $0.29

1158.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 MX$98.1

$3.09 $3.09

87.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.09

$0.09 $0.09

1611.11%

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

$22.8K MX$386.8K

$49.4K $49.4K

-53.82%

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

$25.8K MX$437.9K

$43.1K $43.1K

-40.18%

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

$90.7 MX$1,538

$13.21 $13.21

586.37%

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

$25.19 MX$427

$1.57 $1.57

1504.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.75 MX$539

$3.64 $3.64

772.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,167

$16.36 $16.36

320.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$498

$15.94 $15.94

84.25%

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$82.5

$1.48 $1.48

228.38%

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

$226 MX$3,828

$108 $108

108.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,194 MX$71.1K

$2,496 $2,496

68.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.38 MX$804

$19.41 $19.41

144.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.45 MX$737

$21.22 $21.22

104.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 MX$1,361

$109 $109

-26.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.4 MX$1,550

$73.8 $73.8

23.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 MX$18.4K

$349 $349

210.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 MX$6,933

$211 $211

93.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,972 MX$33.5K

$807 $807

144.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 MX$21.7K

$358 $358

257.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.6K

$925 $925

337.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.7K

$426 $426

1475.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 MX$13.1K

$220 $220

251.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

23.42

-51.11%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Last update for Amol: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen and $349 in Amol. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 251% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $17.00 in Amol for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $278 vs $116 per month, with Amol cheaper across the board.

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 Amol: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen and Amol differ by about 140% in total monthly costs ($1,305 vs $543 including rent). Amol is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 251% higher in Playa del Carmen, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $349 in Amol. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $543 in Amol – a 140% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Amol runs roughly 217% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $543 in Amol versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Amol but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Amol the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Amol gentler on the wallet – expenses run 140% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.