😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,769 in Agen versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,627 in Agen versus $2,276 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,484 in Agen versus $3,280 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Agen is roughly 39% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Agen is 30% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Agen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.49€9.94
$12.84MX$220
-10.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.9€50.1
$45.54MX$780
27.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.99€10.38
$12.58MX$216
-4.69%
Cappuccino
$4.15€3.59
$3.93MX$67.3
5.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.51
$1.38MX$23.68
110.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48€1.28
$0.75MX$12.93
97.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.85€5.93
$3.04MX$52.1
125.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52€3.91
$6.80MX$116
-33.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Agen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18€1.02
$1.67MX$28.55
-29.34%
White Bread(500g)
$2.01€1.74
$2.22MX$37.97
-9.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.73€2.37
$1.70MX$29.08
60.59%
Eggs
$3.46€3.00
$2.67MX$45.66
29.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.24€12.33
$9.13MX$156
55.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.93€11.19
$8.94MX$153
44.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.54€14.32
$12.54MX$215
31.90%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32€2.01
$2.99MX$51.3
-22.41%
Banana(1kg)
$2.19€1.90
$1.53MX$26.24
43.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.49€2.16
$2.14MX$36.69
16.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.50€3.90
$2.29MX$39.28
96.51%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05€1.78
$2.05MX$35.14
-
Onion(1kg)
$2.97€2.57
$2.04MX$34.99
45.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.42€1.23
$1.21MX$20.76
17.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44€0.38
$1.18MX$20.21
-62.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.44€11.63
$4.62MX$79.2
190.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.24€8.00
$10.41MX$178
-11.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.06€3.51
$1.65MX$28.22
146.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38€3.79
$2.93MX$50.2
49.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Agen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.93€1.68
$0.59MX$10.18
227.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$52.5€45.46
$28.43MX$487
84.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.32€2.01
$5.07MX$86.8
-54.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.94€1.68
$3.66MX$62.7
-46.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$38.77€33.57
$5.85MX$100
562.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.00€1.73
$1.57MX$26.86
27.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2K€28.7K
$22.3KMX$382.0K
48.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.1K€31.3K
$25.7KMX$441.1K
40.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Agen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$266€230
$88.7MX$1,519
199.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.82€13.70
$22.82MX$391
-30.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.29€27.96
$30.42MX$521
6.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Agen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.68€32.62
$68.3MX$1,170
-44.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.60MX$490
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.03€10.42
$4.94MX$84.7
143.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Agen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$802€695
$216MX$3,703
271.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.9K€12.0K
$4,146MX$71.0K
234.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Agen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$124€108
$46.48MX$796
167.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.15€39.95
$44.13MX$756
4.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€95.9
$92.2MX$1,580
20.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144€125
$93.4MX$1,599
54.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Agen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$617€535
$1,080MX$18.5K
-42.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$584€506
$389MX$6,667
50.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$989€857
$1,935MX$33.2K
-48.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$931€806
$1,277MX$21.9K
-27.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,984€3,449
$3,958MX$67.8K
0.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,136€2,715
$6,438MX$110.3K
-51.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Agen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,259€2,821
$752MX$12.9K
333.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.5
11.6
-69.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Agen: August 2, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 4, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $617 in Agen and $1,080 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Agen pays 333% 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: $58.0 in Agen vs $46.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $341 vs $274 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
Agen vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Agen or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 39% lower than in Agen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Agen or in Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 333% higher in Agen, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Agen compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $617 in Agen versus $1,080 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Agen or in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Agen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Agen and in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $58.0 in Agen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Agen or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,769 in Agen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Agen. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Agen or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,271 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Agen compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Agen and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Agen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.