Which place is cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Amman?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Amman or Playa del Carmen?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Amman and Playa del Carmen. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Amman or Playa del Carmen?
Amman
Amman is the largest city in of the Hashemite Kingdom of the country of Jordan. It is also the capital city of Jordan and has a population of over four million people. Many people use Amman as a base for venturing out into the rest of Jordan and other surrounding countries. There are many things to see and do in Amman.
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is in Quintana Roo on the Yucatan Peninsula. It's a popular resort town and is about seventy kilometers south of Cancun. It has a European atmosphere with many small hotels and a nice relaxed feel. It was originally a small fishing town but tourism began with the introduction of a passenger ferry to Cozumel. The area developed rapidly and there are many luxury hotels, condos, and resorts. There are also American chains and a variety of shopping opportunities nearby.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico.
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Amman Prices
Jordan PricesPlaya del Carmen Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAmman $135Playa del Carmen $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Amman is $135, while the average daily cost in Playa del Carmen is $89. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Amman and Playa del Carmen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAmman $49Playa del Carmen $36
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAmman $98Playa del Carmen $72
Compare Hotels in Amman and Playa del Carmen
Looking for a hotel in Amman or Playa del Carmen? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Amman Hotel Prices and Playa del Carmen Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Amman $24Playa del Carmen $22
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Amman
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amman:
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Bus Ride (for Two)$0.71
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RIde to Airport$28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amman
Also for Amman, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from/To King Hussein Border: $45
- Airport Transfer To The Dead Sea: $51
- Airport Transfer To and From Amman: $23
- Airport pickup or drop off transfer from or to Amman city: $63
- Amman Airport Private Departure Transfer: $27
- Amman Airport Private Transfer: $34
- Amman Airport Private Transfer To Amman: $20
- Amman Airport Private Transfer To Amman: $25
- Amman Airport Private Transfer To Amman: $40
- Amman Airport Private Transfer To Multiple Destinations : $40
- Amman Airport Transfer to/from Multi Destinations: $55
- Amman Airport Transfer vice versa: $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Playa del Carmen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:
- Wedding Transfers Services in Round Trip Playa del Carmen: $180
- Tulum Ruins Experience with Private Roundtrip Transfer: $115
- Transfer from Cancun airport to Riviera Maya hotel: $139
- Transfer Airport to Hotel Nickelodeon from 1 to 8 persons: $69
- Tour Bacalar Ponton with Transfer from Cancun & Playa del Carmen : $147
- Round Trip Private Transfer (Costa Mujeres): $210
- ROUNDTRIP Private Transfer Cancun -Tulum/Akumal /Hilton 1-8 pax: $221
- Puerto Aventuras to Cancún Airport (CUN) - Private Departure Transfer: $87
- Private transfer from Playa del Carmen to Chiquila: $131
- Private Transfers to Cancun Airport, from Tulum or Akumal: $129
- Private Transfers to Cancun Airport, from Playa del Carmen: $89
- Private Transfer: Playa del Carmen to Cancun Airport CUN by SUV: $94
Is it cheaper to fly into Amman or Playa del Carmen?
Prices for flights to both Playa del Carmen and Amman change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAmman $58Playa del Carmen $37
Typical Food Prices in Amman
For Amman, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Pastries$4.23
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Tea$5.64
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amman
For Amman, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Guided Food Tour in Downtown: $70
- Women-Led Food Tour Through Amman’s Culinary Scene: $80
- The Best Culture&Food Tour With Majd The Local Guide: $81
- Amman Food Tours: 3-Hours Guided Walking Food Tour in Amman: $106
- Private Panoramic Amman Tour and Local Lunch or Dinner-Wine Taste: $107
- Traditional Cooking Class in Amman with Return Hotel Transfers: $118
- Private Jordan Heritage Restaurant Lunch or Dinner with Arak Experience: $140
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Playa del Carmen
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Playa del Carmen.
- Dinner and Show at the Mayan Planetarium of Chichen: $39
- Cenotes by Bike and Mayan Cooking Class Half-Day Guided Tour: $56
- Flavors of Playa del Carmen, Mexican Food Tour: $63
- Playa Del Carmen Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $75
- crazy walking food tour Inlakech Playa del Carmen: $78
- Playa del Carmen Walking Food Tour: $79
- Yucatecan Cooking Class & Unlimited Margaritas – Playa del Carmen: $85
- Playa del Camen Vegan Mexican Food Tour: $85
- Temazcal Mayan Ceremony and Dinner in Mayan Village: $89
- Playa del Carmen Mexican Cooking Class : $106
- PDC Traditional Mexican Cooking Experience: $109
- Riviera Maya Luxury Sunset Sailing plus Light Dinner and Open Bar: $109
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Amman $32Playa del Carmen $15
Tours and Activities in Amman
For Amman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Discover the hidden gems of Amman's Rainbow street on a self-guided audio tour: $5.00
- Amman Shopping Private Tour: $20
- Amman Private City Tour: $20
- Tree of Al Buqayawiyya and Seven Sleepers Cave Private Tour : $30
- Full Day Madaba Mount Nebo Baptism and Dead Sea Private Tour: $35
- Private Sightseeing City Tour: $38
- Amman Heritage Walk: A Private City Center Tour: $40
- Sightseeing Tour in Heart of Amman downtown: $40
- Private Walking Tour in Madaba with Local Guide: $41
- Amman Heritage Tour: Street Food, Local Culture & Art: $44
- Amman Private City Tour From Airport: $45
- Madaba Mount Nebo and Baptism Private Guided Tour: $45
Tours and Activities in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few actual costs in Playa del Carmen for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- ATV Mayan Jungle Adventure: $180
- Buggy Ride through Playa del Carmen Tour: $139
- Catamaran Cruise in Riviera Maya With Snorkeling & Beach Club: $85
- Cozumel Buggy Tour: $155
- Electric fatbike ecological tour in the Mayan lands: $138
- Full-Day Tour 4x1 to Tulum, Coba, Cenote and Playa del Carmen with Lunch: $47
- Holbox Adventure Boat, Yalahau, Pasion from Playa del Carmen: $130
- Park Xenses Tour Play with your Senses from Playa del Carmen: $126
- Private Cenote Sac Actun Cave Adventure from Riviera Maya: $130
- Romantic tour in Akumal: $115
- The Best Ruins Tour : Coba Sunset Cultural / Extreme : $140
- Tulum Adventure With Atv Ziplines and Cenote Tour: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAmman $14Playa del Carmen $19
Sample the Local Flavors in Amman
Also in Amman, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Private Wine Tasting Tour in Amman and Boulevard Walking Tour: $93
- Full Day Tour of Ajloun Castle with Cable Car and Wine Tasting : $127
Sample the Local Flavors in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Playa del Carmen:
- Madness tour bar crawl Playa del carmen open bar: $99
- Tour to the Brewery with Tasting and Fifth Avenue: $100
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Amman and Playa del Carmen, we can see that Amman is more expensive. And not only is Playa del Carmen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Amman is in Middle East and Playa del Carmen is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Playa del Carmen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Playa del Carmen and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Amman would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amman than you might in Playa del Carmen.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Amman Expensive? and Is Playa del Carmen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Amman or Playa del Carmen?
Amman has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Playa del Carmen. When comparing the sizes of Amman and Playa del Carmen, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Amman or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Amman experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Amman or Playa del Carmen in the Summer?
Both Playa del Carmen and Amman during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Amman because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Playa del Carmen for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Amman is cooler than Playa del Carmen. Typically, the summer temperatures in Amman in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Playa del Carmen averages at about 28°C (82°F).
In Playa del Carmen, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Amman. In the summer, Amman often gets more sunshine than Playa del Carmen. Amman gets 364 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Carmen receives 223 hours of full sun.
Playa del Carmen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Amman usually gets less rain in July than Playa del Carmen. Amman gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Playa del Carmen receives 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAmman 25°C (77°F)Playa del Carmen 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Amman or Playa del Carmen in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Amman and Playa del Carmen. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Amman year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Playa del Carmen in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Amman is generally cooler than Playa del Carmen. Daily temperatures in Amman average around 20°C (68°F), and Playa del Carmen fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa del Carmen this time of the year. In Amman, it's very sunny this time of the year. Amman usually receives more sunshine than Playa del Carmen during autumn. Amman gets 274 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Carmen receives 233 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Playa del Carmen receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Amman usually receives less rain than Playa del Carmen. Amman gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Playa del Carmen receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn. June to October is the hurricane season in Playa del Carmen.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAmman 20°C (68°F)Playa del Carmen 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Amman or Playa del Carmen in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Amman as well as Playa del Carmen. Amman attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Playa del Carmen for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Amman is much colder than Playa del Carmen in the winter. The daily temperature in Amman averages around 8°C (46°F) in January, and Playa del Carmen fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa del Carmen. In the winter, Amman often gets less sunshine than Playa del Carmen. Amman gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Carmen receives 224 hours of full sun.
Amman receives a lot of rain in the winter. Amman usually gets more rain in January than Playa del Carmen. Amman gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Playa del Carmen receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAmman 8°C (46°F)Playa del Carmen 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Amman or Playa del Carmen in the Spring?
Both Playa del Carmen and Amman are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Amman throughout the year. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Playa del Carmen because of the beaches and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Amman is much colder than Playa del Carmen. Typically, the spring temperatures in Amman in April average around 16°C (61°F), and Playa del Carmen averages at about 27°C (81°F).
It's quite sunny in Playa del Carmen. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Amman. Amman usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Playa del Carmen during spring. Amman gets 269 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Carmen receives 259 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Amman usually receives more rain than Playa del Carmen. Amman gets 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain, while Playa del Carmen receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the spring. June to October in Playa del Carmen is the hurricane season.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAmman 16°C (61°F)Playa del Carmen 27°C (81°F)
Typical Weather for Playa del Carmen and Amman
| Amman | Playa del Carmen | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 8°C (46°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 9°C (48°F) | 98 mm (3.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (61°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| May | 21°C (70°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) |
| Oct | 20°C (68°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (57°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Dec | 10°C (50°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.