😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $389 in Agartala.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $590 in Agartala.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $792 in Agartala.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 223% more expensive than in Agartala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen6% lower, Agartala71% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Agartala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$210
$2.63₹254
355.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$731
$6.29₹605
564.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$188
$5.32₹512
102.07%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$61.1
$1.88₹181
86.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.33
$0.49₹46.72
195.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.47
$0.13₹12.57
576.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.6
$2.10₹202
40.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.9
$3.70₹356
21.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Agartala
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$25.04
$0.80₹77.4
78.75%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$32.13
$0.58₹56.1
217.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.42
$0.65₹62.4
141.54%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.92
$0.98₹94.8
156.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$145
$7.36₹709
12.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$3.43₹330
145.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$187
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.62
$2.30₹222
13.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.15
$0.67₹64.8
114.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.31
$0.92₹89.0
113.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.62
$0.45₹43.36
364.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.37
$0.25₹23.80
640.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.90
$0.55₹53.2
294.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$18.04
$0.49₹47.07
110.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.78
$0.23₹22.18
365.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.7
$3.43₹330
19.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$178
$7.16₹690
42.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.29
$1.84₹177
-8.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$44.17
$1.97₹190
28.43%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$9.01₹868
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Agartala
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.90
$0.55₹53.2
-7.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$455
$8.71₹838
198.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.5
$0.56₹53.5
476.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$42.06
$0.24₹23.23
904.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.5
$1.46₹141
121.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.10
$1.19₹114
10.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$519.2K
$17.6K₹1.7M
68.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$413.7K
$39.9K₹3.8M
-40.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Agartala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,434
$41.22₹3,968
98.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$401
$2.23₹215
929.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$527
$6.86₹661
338.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Agartala
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$909
$9.65₹929
438.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$324
$5.30₹511
249.62%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$87.0
$2.30₹221
116.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Agartala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,452
$32.91₹3,169
499.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$93.3K
$480₹46.2K
1011.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Agartala
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$622
$24.95₹2,402
42.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$705
$28.60₹2,754
41.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,377
$44.25₹4,260
77.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$20.82₹2,005
327.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Agartala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.6K
$80.2₹7,725
1080.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,288
$58.9₹5,669
705.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.7K
$242₹23.3K
580.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.2K
$141₹13.6K
758.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.9K
$998₹96.1K
306.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$113.1K
$505₹48.6K
1182.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Agartala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
$413₹39.7K
58.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
7.5
52.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Last update for Agartala: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $947 in Playa del Carmen and $80.2 in Agartala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 58% 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: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $6.00 in Agartala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $115 per month, with Agartala 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
Playa del Carmen vs Agartala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Agartala?
Agartala wins on cost – living expenses run 223% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Agartala the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or in Agartala?
Average pay runs 58% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 Playa del Carmen compared to Agartala?
Rent for a central apartment: $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $80.2 in Agartala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or in Agartala?
Supermarket bills run roughly 116% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Agartala?
Dining out is cheaper in Agartala – a meal for two runs $6.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Agartala?
At $389 in Agartala versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Agartala but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Agartala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Agartala?
Both work as nomad bases, but Agartala delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $389 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Agartala hard to pass up.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Agartala?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Agartala 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 Agartala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 223% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared