🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,847 in Amstetten.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,760 in Amstetten.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,673 in Amstetten.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 32% less than in Amstetten, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Amstetten is 38% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Amstetten
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$16.08€14.08
-25.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
$54.3€47.55
-23.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$8.80€7.71
22.16%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$3.54€3.10
-1.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$2.73€2.39
-46.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
$2.52€2.21
-65.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
$4.50€3.94
-34.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
$3.46€3.03
30.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Amstetten
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.63€1.43
-12.27%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$2.05€1.79
-10.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
$2.81€2.46
-44.13%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$4.92€4.31
-48.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$17.98€15.74
-53.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$13.76€12.05
-38.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$20.75€18.17
-48.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
$2.77€2.43
-5.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
$2.43€2.13
-40.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
$2.85€2.50
-31.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
$4.03€3.53
-48.14%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
$2.05€1.79
-9.76%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
$2.07€1.81
4.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
$1.90€1.66
-45.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$1.04€0.91
2.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$7.17€6.28
-42.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
$9.12€7.98
11.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
$1.58€1.38
6.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
$2.07€1.82
22.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Amstetten
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
$2.95€2.58
-82.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
$59.9€52.5
-56.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$5.88€5.15
-45.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
$1.93€1.69
24.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
$35.37€30.98
-90.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$1.75€1.53
-24.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
$28.1K€24.6K
5.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$30.6K€26.8K
-22.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Amstetten
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$380€333
-78.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
$19.33€16.93
18.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$36.21€31.71
-16.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Amstetten
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
$46.97€41.13
10.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
$26.30€23.04
-29.54%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$14.11€12.36
-64.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Amstetten
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
$406€355
-51.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
$7,092€6,211
-24.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Amstetten
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
$96.1€84.2
-62.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$39.97€35.01
0.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
$101€88.3
-21.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
$151€132
-41.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Amstetten
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
$542€474
74.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
$457€400
3.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
$863€756
90.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
$793€694
52.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
$3,104€2,718
30.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.7K
$2,805€2,457
130.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Amstetten
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
$3,010€2,636
-78.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
3.91
192.07%
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 Amstetten: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $947 in Playa del Carmen and $542 in Amstetten. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Amstetten pays 360% 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: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $54.0 in Amstetten for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $373 per month, with Playa del Carmen 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 Amstetten: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and in Amstetten?
Playa del Carmen and Amstetten differ by about 47% in total monthly costs ($1,256 vs $1,847 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 360% lower in Amstetten. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Amstetten?
Rent for a central apartment: $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $542 in Amstetten. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Amstetten?
Childcare runs $197 in Playa del Carmen versus $406 in Amstetten. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 50% higher in Amstetten. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,847 in Amstetten, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Amstetten. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Amstetten?
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.
Is Playa del Carmen or Amstetten safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Amstetten are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Amstetten?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Amstetten. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared