😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,727 in Agoura Hills, CA versus $1,259 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,983 in Agoura Hills, CA versus $2,177 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,239 in Agoura Hills, CA versus $3,095 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Agoura Hills, CA is roughly 117% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Agoura Hills, CA is 104% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Agoura Hills, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.03$25.03
$11.95MX$208
109.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.0$99.0
$41.94MX$730
135.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.17$10.17
$10.42MX$181
-2.40%
Cappuccino
$5.43$5.43
$3.51MX$61.2
54.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75$2.75
$1.52MX$26.39
80.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02$2.02
$0.91MX$15.84
121.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.90$7.90
$3.04MX$52.9
159.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.81$8.81
$4.37MX$76.1
101.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Agoura Hills, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24$1.24
$1.42MX$24.73
-12.68%
White Bread(500g)
$5.50$5.50
$1.83MX$31.87
200.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.58$4.58
$1.63MX$28.45
180.98%
Eggs
$4.41$4.41
$2.54MX$44.20
73.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.47$12.47
$8.57MX$149
45.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.49$11.49
$8.49MX$148
35.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.32$14.32
$10.80MX$188
32.59%
Apples(1kg)
$6.55$6.55
$2.75MX$47.94
138.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.92$1.92
$1.44MX$25.00
33.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.80$3.80
$1.89MX$32.83
101.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.49$5.49
$2.17MX$37.77
153.00%
Potato(1kg)
$3.31$3.31
$1.78MX$30.97
85.96%
Onion(1kg)
$2.92$2.92
$2.22MX$38.71
31.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.17$2.17
$1.07MX$18.60
102.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.00$2.00
$1.08MX$18.79
85.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.48$9.48
$4.15MX$72.2
128.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.91$14.91
$10.45MX$182
42.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78$1.78
$1.74MX$30.34
2.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.64$4.64
$2.58MX$44.92
79.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Agoura Hills, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.02$2.02
$0.51MX$8.94
296.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$25.94MX$451
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.92$3.92
$3.21MX$55.9
22.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.72$2.72
$2.50MX$43.55
8.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$31.77$31.77
$3.19MX$55.4
895.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25$1.25
$1.26MX$21.87
-0.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K$28.4K
$29.7KMX$516.6K
-4.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K$27.1K
$23.7KMX$412.1K
14.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Agoura Hills, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$203$203
$82.0MX$1,427
147.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.1$55.1
$22.73MX$395
142.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.7$72.7
$29.42MX$512
147.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Agoura Hills, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.08$43.08
$52.2MX$908
-17.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.45MX$321
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.96$13.96
$4.93MX$85.9
183.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Agoura Hills, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,865$1,865
$202MX$3,511
824.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$40.3K$40.3K
$5,217MX$90.8K
672.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Agoura Hills, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1$54.1
$35.93MX$625
50.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.85$40.85
$40.33MX$702
1.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.6$76.6
$79.9MX$1,390
-4.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129$129
$89.3MX$1,554
44.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Agoura Hills, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,586$1,586
$948MX$16.5K
67.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,338$1,338
$465MX$8,097
187.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,678$2,678
$1,630MX$28.4K
64.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,244$2,244
$1,193MX$20.8K
88.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,686$2,686
$3,933MX$68.4K
-31.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,433$2,433
$6,428MX$111.9K
-62.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Agoura Hills, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,719$4,719
$658MX$11.5K
616.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.69
11.42
-41.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Agoura Hills, CA: July 21, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,586 in Agoura Hills, CA and $948 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Agoura Hills, CA pays 617% 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: $99.0 in Agoura Hills, CA vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $425 vs $252 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
Agoura Hills, CA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Agoura Hills, CA or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 117% lower than in Agoura Hills, CA. 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 Agoura Hills, CA or in Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 617% higher in Agoura Hills, CA, 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 Agoura Hills, CA compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,586 in Agoura Hills, CA versus $948 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Agoura Hills, CA and in Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $1,865 in Agoura Hills, CA versus $202 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Agoura Hills, CA and in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $99.0 in Agoura Hills, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Agoura Hills, CA or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,259 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,727 in Agoura Hills, CA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Agoura Hills, CA. 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, Agoura Hills, CA or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,259 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 117% less than in Agoura Hills, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Agoura Hills, CA vs other spots: cost of living compared