Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens, GA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens, GA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,215 per month in Athens, GA vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,460 per month in Athens, GA vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,705 per month in Athens, GA vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Athens, GA costs about 76% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Athens, GA sits 66% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.72 $14.72

$11.99 MX$209

22.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.2 $78.2

$41.78 MX$728

87.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.21 $11.21

$10.75 MX$187

4.28%

Cappuccino

$5.42 $5.42

$3.50 MX$60.9

54.86%

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

$2.39 $2.39

$1.45 MX$25.22

64.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 $1.64

$0.88 MX$15.41

86.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$2.95 MX$51.3

136.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$4.51 MX$78.6

78.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.43 MX$24.94

-41.26%

White Bread (500g)

$3.03 $3.03

$1.84 MX$31.99

64.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$1.57 MX$27.31

175.16%

Eggs

$3.01 $3.01

$2.51 MX$43.74

19.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.72 $7.72

$8.28 MX$144

-6.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.85 $11.85

$8.43 MX$147

40.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.79 $13.79

$10.68 MX$186

29.12%

Apples (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$2.61 MX$45.43

67.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.44 MX$25.04

-4.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$1.96 MX$34.16

121.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$2.09 MX$36.47

131.10%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.85 MX$32.24

48.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.17 MX$37.74

27.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.03 MX$17.96

130.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 $2.08

$1.07 MX$18.70

94.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.68 $7.68

$4.10 MX$71.4

87.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.34 $18.34

$10.17 MX$177

80.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.68 MX$29.17

3.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.59 $4.59

$2.53 MX$43.98

81.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.51 MX$8.87

76.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.09 $32.09

$26.04 MX$453

23.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.55 $4.55

$3.23 MX$56.3

40.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.41 MX$41.88

-23.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.26 $42.26

$3.23 MX$56.2

1208.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$1.32 MX$23.00

-42.42%

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

$30.0K $30.0K

$29.7K MX$517.1K

0.91%

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

$24.2K $24.2K

$23.7K MX$412.0K

2.40%

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

$172 $172

$82.0 MX$1,428

109.22%

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

$35.69 $35.69

$22.95 MX$400

55.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.9 $63.9

$30.11 MX$524

112.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.62 $24.62

$52.0 MX$905

-52.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$323

Cinema Ticket

$12.86 $12.86

$4.98 MX$86.6

158.23%

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

$860 $860

$197 MX$3,438

335.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,367 $9,367

$5,336 MX$92.9K

75.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 $57.8

$35.60 MX$620

62.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.01 $32.01

$40.33 MX$702

-20.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 $79.7

$78.8 MX$1,371

1.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.1 $54.1

$88.9 MX$1,549

-39.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$947 MX$16.5K

67.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,085 $1,085

$474 MX$8,254

128.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,757 $2,757

$1,644 MX$28.6K

67.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,147 $2,147

$1,211 MX$21.1K

77.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,384 $2,384

$4,056 MX$70.6K

-41.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,265 $2,265

$6,470 MX$112.7K

-64.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,460 $3,460

$654 MX$11.4K

429.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.47

11.42

-43.35%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Athens, GA: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,584 in Athens, GA versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 429% higher in Athens, GA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $78.0 in Athens, GA versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $366 vs $249 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Athens, GA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Athens, GA is pricier by about 76%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,322 per month in Athens, GA and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 47% more in Athens, GA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $78.0 in Athens, GA and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Athens, GA at $2,215. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Athens, GA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Athens, GA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.