🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,669 in Agen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,483 in Agen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,297 in Agen.
🙂Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 23% less than in Agen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 4% below, Agen is 25% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Agen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$12.23€10.47
-2.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$63.3€54.2
-32.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$11.35€9.72
-6.70%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$3.87€3.31
-6.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$2.90€2.49
-49.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$1.73€1.48
-45.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$6.42€5.49
-51.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$5.75€4.93
-22.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Agen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.16€0.99
23.28%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$2.10€1.80
-10.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$2.57€2.20
-36.58%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$3.37€2.88
-21.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$15.54€13.30
-47.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$12.92€11.06
-35.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$16.49€14.12
-32.69%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$2.76€2.36
-3.99%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$2.24€1.92
-33.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$2.60€2.22
-23.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$4.66€3.99
-55.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$2.16€1.85
-17.13%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$2.91€2.49
-25.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$1.33€1.14
-18.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.68€0.58
52.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$13.57€11.62
-70.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$9.60€8.22
6.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$2.85€2.44
-39.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$3.39€2.90
-26.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Agen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$1.48€1.26
-64.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
$49.10€42.03
-45.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$4.76€4.08
-34.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$3.19€2.73
-24.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$48.12€41.19
-93.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$2.05€1.75
-38.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$25.6K€21.9K
20.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$23.1K€19.8K
1.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Agen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$231€198
-64.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$24.15€20.67
-7.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$32.95€28.20
-9.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Agen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$17.24€14.75
200.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$18.12€15.51
3.04%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$10.93€9.35
-54.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Agen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$346€296
-42.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$9,243€7,912
-42.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Agen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$87.4€74.8
-58.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$17.31€14.82
131.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$87.3€74.8
-8.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$85.1€72.8
4.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Agen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$623€533
54.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$544€466
-14.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$999€855
59.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$909€778
32.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$4,127€3,533
-4.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$3,005€2,572
114.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Agen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$3,380€2,893
-78.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
3.5
226.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Last update for Agen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $623 in Agen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Agen pays 369% 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: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $63.0 in Agen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $344 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
Playa del Carmen vs Agen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Agen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 30% lower than in Agen. 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 Playa del Carmen or Agen?
On paper, Agen earns 369% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen vs Agen?
Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $623 in Agen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or Agen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Agen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen vs Agen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $63.0 in Agen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or Agen?
At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,669 in Agen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Agen. 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, Playa del Carmen or Agen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,287 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Agen?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Agen 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 Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Agen. 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