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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $630 in Amwaj, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,939 in Amwaj, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,248 in Amwaj, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 99% more than Amwaj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Amwaj are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Amwaj 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 MX$209

$5.29 BHD 1.99

126.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$728

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$187

$9.31 BHD 3.51

15.47%

Cappuccino

$3.50 MX$60.9

$2.61 BHD 0.98

34.10%

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

$1.45 MX$25.22

$1.04 BHD 0.39

39.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 MX$15.41

$0.67 BHD 0.25

31.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.3

$7.98 BHD 3.01

-63.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$78.6

$10.67 BHD 4.02

-57.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.99

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$27.31

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.74

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 MX$144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$147

$10.22 BHD 3.85

-17.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 MX$186

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 MX$45.43

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.04

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$34.16

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$36.47

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.24

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.74

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MX$17.96

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.70

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$71.4

$5.31 BHD 2.00

-22.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$177

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.17

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$43.98

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.87

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$41.88

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$23.00

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

$29.7K MX$517.1K

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

$23.7K MX$412.0K

$36.4K BHD 13.7K

-35.04%

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

$82.0 MX$1,428

$161 BHD 60.6

-49.00%

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

$22.95 MX$400

$26.98 BHD 10.17

-14.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.11 MX$524

$66.2 BHD 24.93

-54.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$905

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$323

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$86.6

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

$197 MX$3,438

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$92.9K

$13.0K BHD 4,902

-58.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$620

$65.1 BHD 24.52

-45.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$702

$65.0 BHD 24.51

-37.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,371

$93.9 BHD 35.38

-16.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,549

$120 BHD 45.17

-25.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,254

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.6K

$2,417 BHD 911

-31.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.1K

$2,114 BHD 797

-42.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$70.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$112.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.4K

$4,038 BHD 1,522

-83.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

5.75

98.61%

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 Amwaj: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 518% higher in Amwaj, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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 Amwaj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen costs about 99% more than Amwaj, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $945 in Amwaj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $630 in Amwaj. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 387% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Amwaj, where all-in costs run around $630, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Amwaj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Amwaj costs $630 versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Amwaj. 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.