🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,259 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,727 in Agoura Hills, CA.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,177 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,983 in Agoura Hills, CA.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,095 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,239 in Agoura Hills, CA.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 54% less than in Agoura Hills, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Agoura Hills, CA is 104% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Agoura Hills, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.95MX$208
$25.03$25.03
-52.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.94MX$730
$99.0$99.0
-57.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.42MX$181
$10.17$10.17
2.46%
Cappuccino
$3.51MX$61.2
$5.43$5.43
-35.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52MX$26.39
$2.75$2.75
-44.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.84
$2.02$2.02
-54.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.04MX$52.9
$7.90$7.90
-61.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37MX$76.1
$8.81$8.81
-50.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Agoura Hills, CA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42MX$24.73
$1.24$1.24
14.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83MX$31.87
$5.50$5.50
-66.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.45
$4.58$4.58
-64.41%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.20
$4.41$4.41
-42.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.57MX$149
$12.47$12.47
-31.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$148
$11.49$11.49
-26.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.80MX$188
$14.32$14.32
-24.58%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75MX$47.94
$6.55$6.55
-58.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.00
$1.92$1.92
-25.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89MX$32.83
$3.80$3.80
-50.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.77
$5.49$5.49
-60.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.97
$3.31$3.31
-46.22%
Onion(1kg)
$2.22MX$38.71
$2.92$2.92
-23.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.60
$2.17$2.17
-50.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.79
$2.00$2.00
-46.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$72.2
$9.48$9.48
-56.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.45MX$182
$14.91$14.91
-29.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74MX$30.34
$1.78$1.78
-2.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.92
$4.64$4.64
-44.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Agoura Hills, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.94
$2.02$2.02
-74.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.94MX$451
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.21MX$55.9
$3.92$3.92
-18.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.50MX$43.55
$2.72$2.72
-8.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.19MX$55.4
$31.77$31.77
-89.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.87
$1.25$1.25
0.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$516.6K
$28.4K$28.4K
4.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.1K
$27.1K$27.1K
-12.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Agoura Hills, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,427
$203$203
-59.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.73MX$395
$55.1$55.1
-58.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.42MX$512
$72.7$72.7
-59.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Agoura Hills, CA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.2MX$908
$43.08$43.08
21.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.45MX$321
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$85.9
$13.96$13.96
-64.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Agoura Hills, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$202MX$3,511
$1,865$1,865
-89.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,217MX$90.8K
$40.3K$40.3K
-87.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Agoura Hills, CA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93MX$625
$54.1$54.1
-33.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$40.85$40.85
-1.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,390
$76.6$76.6
4.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3MX$1,554
$129$129
-30.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Agoura Hills, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$948MX$16.5K
$1,586$1,586
-40.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,097
$1,338$1,338
-65.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,630MX$28.4K
$2,678$2,678
-39.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,193MX$20.8K
$2,244$2,244
-46.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,933MX$68.4K
$2,686$2,686
46.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,428MX$111.9K
$2,433$2,433
164.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Agoura Hills, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$658MX$11.5K
$4,719$4,719
-86.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.69
70.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026
Last update for Agoura Hills, CA: July 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $948 in Playa del Carmen and $1,586 in Agoura Hills, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Agoura Hills, CA pays 617% 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 $99.0 in Agoura Hills, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $425 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 Agoura Hills, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Agoura Hills, CA?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 117% lower than in Agoura Hills, CA. 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 in Agoura Hills, CA?
On paper, salaries run 617% lower in Agoura Hills, CA. 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 compared to Agoura Hills, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $948 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,586 in Agoura Hills, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Agoura Hills, CA?
Childcare runs $202 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,865 in Agoura Hills, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Agoura Hills, CA?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $99.0 in Agoura Hills, CA. 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 in Agoura Hills, CA?
At $1,259 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,727 in Agoura Hills, CA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Agoura Hills, CA. 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 Agoura Hills, CA?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,259 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 117% less than in Agoura Hills, CA. 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