😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $371 in Agartala.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $565 in Agartala.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,374 in Playa del Carmen versus $759 in Agartala.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 249% more expensive than in Agartala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen6% lower, Agartala73% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Agartala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71MX$199
$2.40₹228
387.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.59MX$791
$6.33₹601
636.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65MX$198
$5.35₹508
117.76%
Cappuccino
$4.09MX$69.5
$1.62₹154
152.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37MX$23.34
$0.45₹42.81
204.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83MX$14.16
$0.13₹12.34
538.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.35MX$56.9
$1.62₹154
106.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91MX$117
$3.13₹298
120.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Agartala
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73MX$29.33
$0.72₹68.7
140.28%
White Bread(500g)
$2.26MX$38.39
$0.47₹44.21
380.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$30.05
$0.58₹54.6
205.17%
Eggs
$2.73MX$46.41
$0.93₹88.1
193.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.18MX$156
$5.59₹531
64.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.92MX$151
$2.88₹273
209.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.60MX$214
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.02MX$51.3
$2.69₹255
12.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57MX$26.68
$1.30₹124
20.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13MX$36.10
$1.48₹141
43.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.46
$0.76₹72.4
197.37%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.04
$0.31₹29.90
545.16%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.06
$0.40₹37.97
415.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18MX$20.04
$0.45₹42.80
162.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.45
$0.25₹23.63
380.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.63MX$78.7
$3.12₹297
48.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.69MX$182
$7.41₹703
44.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.50
$1.44₹137
12.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$48.93
$1.64₹155
75.61%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.04₹479
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Agartala
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.57MX$9.74
$0.20₹18.97
185.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.83MX$507
$7.46₹709
299.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$92.5
$0.77₹73.3
607.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.70MX$62.9
$0.31₹29.08
1093.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.98MX$102
$1.61₹153
271.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.38
$1.14₹108
35.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3KMX$379.2K
$12.6K₹1.2M
77.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KMX$440.7K
$19.7K₹1.9M
32.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Agartala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.1MX$1,514
$44.19₹4,196
101.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04MX$425
$2.73₹259
817.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.50MX$535
$8.20₹778
284.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Agartala
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.8MX$1,151
$9.07₹861
647.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.92MX$491
$6.63₹630
336.20%
Cinema Ticket
$5.05MX$85.8
$2.06₹196
145.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Agartala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$225MX$3,820
$35.71₹3,391
529.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,222MX$71.7K
$477₹45.3K
785.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Agartala
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44MX$806
$23.06₹2,190
105.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98MX$764
$23.00₹2,184
95.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.0MX$1,392
$36.19₹3,437
126.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1MX$1,564
$22.89₹2,174
302.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Agartala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,069MX$18.2K
$80.6₹7,654
1226.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$405MX$6,884
$59.5₹5,654
580.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,935MX$32.9K
$210₹19.9K
822.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,301MX$22.1K
$135₹12.8K
864.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,995MX$67.9K
$723₹68.6K
452.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,626MX$112.5K
$521₹49.4K
1172.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Agartala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$749MX$12.7K
$422₹40.1K
77.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
7.25
57.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Last update for Agartala: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen and $80.6 in Agartala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 77% 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: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $6.00 in Agartala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $112 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 249% 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 77% 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: $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $80.6 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 147% 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 $47.00 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 $371 in Agartala versus $1,293 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 $371 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 249% 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