😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,772 in Agen versus $1,265 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,619 in Agen versus $2,314 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,467 in Agen versus $3,362 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Agen is roughly 40% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Agen is 31% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Agen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.34€9.94
$11.48MX$203
-1.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.9€49.91
$46.90MX$829
21.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.96€10.49
$11.90MX$210
0.50%
Cappuccino
$4.01€3.52
$4.02MX$71.1
-0.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92€2.56
$1.37MX$24.18
113.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47€1.29
$0.82MX$14.42
79.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.75€5.92
$3.30MX$58.4
104.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.54€3.98
$6.71MX$119
-32.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Agen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$1.64MX$29.02
-25.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$2.15MX$37.98
-5.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.83€2.48
$1.77MX$31.31
59.89%
Eggs
$3.42€3.00
$2.75MX$48.64
24.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.05€12.33
$9.15MX$162
53.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.84€11.27
$9.23MX$163
39.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.08€14.98
$12.41MX$219
37.63%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.08
$2.90MX$51.3
-18.28%
Banana(1kg)
$2.27€1.99
$1.50MX$26.48
51.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.55€2.24
$2.16MX$38.20
18.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.64€4.07
$2.25MX$39.69
106.22%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15€1.89
$2.02MX$35.74
6.44%
Onion(1kg)
$3.02€2.65
$2.02MX$35.72
49.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.42€1.25
$1.19MX$21.11
19.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45€0.39
$1.13MX$20.06
-60.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.45€11.80
$4.43MX$78.3
203.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.23€8.09
$10.63MX$188
-13.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.23€3.71
$1.68MX$29.64
151.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45€3.90
$2.90MX$51.3
53.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Agen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.99€1.75
$0.60MX$10.67
231.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.17€43.13
$29.09MX$514
69.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.37€2.08
$5.32MX$94.0
-55.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96€1.72
$3.57MX$63.1
-45.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$39.07€34.27
$5.88MX$104
564.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.74
$1.51MX$26.66
31.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.9K
$22.3KMX$395.0K
52.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.9K€31.5K
$25.7KMX$453.5K
39.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Agen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$263€231
$90.6MX$1,600
190.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.90€13.94
$25.44MX$450
-37.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.72€27.83
$30.61MX$541
3.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Agen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.25€32.68
$66.9MX$1,183
-44.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.47MX$521
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.36€10.84
$4.91MX$86.7
151.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Agen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$819€718
$216MX$3,811
279.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.0K€12.2K
$4,125MX$72.9K
238.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Agen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$120€106
$46.02MX$813
161.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.69€40.07
$44.24MX$782
3.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108€94.9
$78.4MX$1,385
38.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144€126
$92.0MX$1,627
56.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Agen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$632€554
$1,061MX$18.8K
-40.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$585€514
$394MX$6,967
48.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$992€870
$2,120MX$37.5K
-53.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$935€820
$1,259MX$22.2K
-25.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,120€3,613
$4,072MX$72.0K
1.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,081€2,703
$6,606MX$116.8K
-53.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Agen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,312€2,905
$752MX$13.3K
340.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.5
11.45
-69.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Agen: September 22, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $632 in Agen and $1,061 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Agen pays 340% 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: $57.0 in Agen vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $346 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 40% 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 340% 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: $632 in Agen versus $1,061 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 26% 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 $47.00 versus $57.0 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 $1,265 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,772 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 $1,265 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 40% less than in Agen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.