😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $401 in Agra.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $605 in Agra.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,374 in Playa del Carmen versus $809 in Agra.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 223% more expensive than in Agra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen6% lower, Agra71% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Agra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71MX$198
$3.22₹305
263.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.59MX$786
$15.58₹1,472
199.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65MX$197
$3.77₹356
209.02%
Cappuccino
$4.09MX$69.1
$1.99₹188
105.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37MX$23.20
$0.41₹39.07
234.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83MX$14.07
$0.14₹13.17
492.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.35MX$56.6
$2.13₹202
57.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91MX$117
$2.58₹244
167.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Agra
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73MX$29.15
$0.72₹68.5
140.28%
White Bread(500g)
$2.26MX$38.15
$0.53₹49.80
326.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$29.86
$0.74₹70.1
139.19%
Eggs
$2.73MX$46.12
$1.13₹107
141.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.18MX$155
$3.44₹325
166.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.92MX$151
$4.53₹428
96.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.60MX$213
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.02MX$51.0
$1.60₹151
88.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57MX$26.51
$0.54₹51.2
190.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13MX$35.88
$0.86₹81.2
147.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.22
$0.75₹71.0
201.33%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00MX$33.82
$0.36₹33.82
455.56%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06MX$34.85
$0.50₹47.34
312.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18MX$19.91
$0.79₹75.1
49.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.32
$0.30₹28.37
300.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.63MX$78.2
$5.09₹481
-9.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.69MX$180
$7.41₹700
44.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.33
$1.37₹129
18.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$48.63
$2.69₹255
7.06%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$7.30₹690
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Agra
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.57MX$9.68
$0.33₹31.41
72.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.83MX$503
$16.01₹1,513
86.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$91.9
$0.33₹31.61
1551.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.70MX$62.5
$0.22₹20.81
1581.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.98MX$101
$1.25₹118
378.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.22
$1.04₹98.4
49.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3KMX$376.8K
$10.6K₹1.0M
109.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KMX$438.0K
$19.1K₹1.8M
35.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Agra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.1MX$1,504
$51.8₹4,892
72.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04MX$423
$3.26₹308
668.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.50MX$532
$6.42₹606
390.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Agra
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.8MX$1,144
$17.25₹1,630
292.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.92MX$488
$13.01₹1,230
122.29%
Cinema Ticket
$5.05MX$85.2
$3.17₹299
59.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Agra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$225MX$3,797
$35.68₹3,371
530.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,222MX$71.3K
$1,175₹111.0K
259.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Agra
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44MX$801
$33.14₹3,132
43.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98MX$759
$19.47₹1,840
131.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.0MX$1,384
$51.3₹4,845
59.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1MX$1,555
$28.35₹2,679
224.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Agra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,069MX$18.0K
$121₹11.4K
782.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$405MX$6,842
$53.6₹5,062
656.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,935MX$32.7K
$182₹17.2K
963.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,301MX$22.0K
$63.4₹5,990
1952.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,995MX$67.4K
$1,040₹98.2K
284.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,626MX$111.8K
$167₹15.7K
3875.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Agra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$749MX$12.6K
$287₹27.1K
161.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
8.33
37.45%
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 Agra: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen and $121 in Agra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 161% 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 $16.00 in Agra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $107 per month, with Agra 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 Agra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Agra?
Agra 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 Agra the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or in Agra?
Average pay runs 161% 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 Agra?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $121 in Agra. 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 Agra?
Supermarket bills run roughly 158% 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 Agra?
Dining out is cheaper in Agra – a meal for two runs $16.00 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 Agra?
At $401 in Agra versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Agra but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Agra the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Agra?
Both work as nomad bases, but Agra delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $401 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Agra hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Agra 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