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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,072 per month in Athens, TN vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,194 per month in Athens, TN vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,316 per month in Athens, TN vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Athens, TN costs about 64% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Athens, TN sits 51% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.09 $30.09

$11.60 MX$200

159.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$116 $116

$47.11 MX$811

146.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.77 $11.77

$11.88 MX$205

-0.93%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$3.98 MX$68.5

42.21%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$1.43 MX$24.57

104.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$0.82 MX$14.20

154.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.72 $7.72

$3.19 MX$54.9

142.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.03 $8.03

$6.79 MX$117

18.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.68 MX$28.85

-43.45%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.20 MX$37.83

12.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.77 $3.77

$1.71 MX$29.41

120.47%

Eggs

$4.90 $4.90

$2.74 MX$47.20

78.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.98 $14.98

$9.58 MX$165

56.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.51 $6.51

$9.01 MX$155

-27.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.93 $21.93

$12.81 MX$221

71.19%

Apples (1kg)

$6.13 $6.13

$2.89 MX$49.74

112.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.50 MX$25.78

-2.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.02 $6.02

$2.15 MX$36.98

180.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.46 $5.46

$2.26 MX$38.91

141.59%

Potato (1kg)

$3.61 $3.61

$1.98 MX$34.10

82.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.65 $2.65

$1.99 MX$34.26

33.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.23 MX$21.25

78.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.20 MX$20.60

41.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.84 $6.84

$4.55 MX$78.3

50.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.26 $15.26

$10.37 MX$179

47.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.62 MX$27.88

21.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.04 $5.04

$2.88 MX$49.60

75.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.60 MX$10.34

238.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$496

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.44 $3.44

$5.39 MX$92.8

-36.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 $1.45

$3.73 MX$64.2

-61.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.12 $24.12

$5.77 MX$99.3

318.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$1.54 MX$26.45

-51.95%

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

$36.8K $36.8K

$22.5K MX$388.3K

63.32%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.1K MX$448.7K

-0.73%

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

$198 $198

$91.4 MX$1,573

116.46%

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

$70.8 $70.8

$25.20 MX$434

180.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.5 $54.5

$31.24 MX$538

74.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 $41.29

$67.2 MX$1,157

-38.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$501

Cinema Ticket

$8.20 $8.20

$4.86 MX$83.7

68.72%

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

$1,865 $1,865

$224 MX$3,851

733.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$4,229 MX$72.8K

429.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.9 $52.9

$47.10 MX$811

12.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.12 $44.12

$44.29 MX$763

-0.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.3 $95.3

$80.1 MX$1,379

18.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 $107

$92.7 MX$1,596

15.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$863 $863

$1,063 MX$18.3K

-18.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$718 $718

$390 MX$6,719

84.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,464 $1,464

$2,149 MX$37.0K

-31.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 $1,159

$1,272 MX$21.9K

-8.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,702 $2,702

$4,001 MX$68.9K

-32.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,405 $2,405

$6,502 MX$112.0K

-63.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,357 $8,357

$758 MX$13.1K

1002.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.18

11.45

-46.03%

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

Last update for Athens, TN: September 15, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $863 in Athens, TN versus $1,063 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 1002% higher in Athens, TN, 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 $116 in Athens, TN versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $399 vs $276 – 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, TN vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Athens, TN costs about 64% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,109 per month in Athens, TN and $1,899 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $116 in Athens, TN and $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 45% more in Athens, TN, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in Athens, TN at $2,072. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Athens, TN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,266 versus $2,072 in Athens, TN. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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