Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Athens, TN Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Athens, TN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,072 in Athens, TN, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,194 in Athens, TN, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,316 in Athens, TN, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 39% cheaper than Athens, TN, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Playa del Carmen sits 7% below the global median, while Athens, TN is 51% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.60 MX$200

$30.09 $30.09

-61.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.11 MX$811

$116 $116

-59.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.88 MX$205

$11.77 $11.77

0.93%

Cappuccino

$3.98 MX$68.5

$5.66 $5.66

-29.68%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 MX$24.57

$2.93 $2.93

-51.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 MX$14.20

$2.09 $2.09

-60.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$54.9

$7.72 $7.72

-58.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

$8.03 $8.03

-15.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.85

$0.95 $0.95

76.84%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 MX$37.83

$2.47 $2.47

-10.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.41

$3.77 $3.77

-54.64%

Eggs

$2.74 MX$47.20

$4.90 $4.90

-44.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MX$165

$14.98 $14.98

-36.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 MX$155

$6.51 $6.51

38.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.81 MX$221

$21.93 $21.93

-41.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 MX$49.74

$6.13 $6.13

-52.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.78

$1.46 $1.46

2.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$36.98

$6.02 $6.02

-64.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.91

$5.46 $5.46

-58.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 MX$34.10

$3.61 $3.61

-45.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.26

$2.65 $2.65

-24.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 MX$21.25

$2.19 $2.19

-43.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.60

$1.70 $1.70

-29.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 MX$78.3

$6.84 $6.84

-33.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$179

$15.26 $15.26

-32.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.88

$1.97 $1.97

-17.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.60

$5.04 $5.04

-42.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.34

$2.03 $2.03

-70.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$496

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 MX$92.8

$3.44 $3.44

56.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.2

$1.45 $1.45

157.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.3

$24.12 $24.12

-76.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.45

$0.74 $0.74

108.11%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.5K MX$388.3K

$36.8K $36.8K

-38.77%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.1K MX$448.7K

$25.9K $25.9K

0.74%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$91.4 MX$1,573

$198 $198

-53.80%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.20 MX$434

$70.8 $70.8

-64.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.24 MX$538

$54.5 $54.5

-42.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,157

$41.29 $41.29

62.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$501

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$83.7

$8.20 $8.20

-40.73%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$224 MX$3,851

$1,865 $1,865

-88.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.8K

$22.4K $22.4K

-81.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 MX$811

$52.9 $52.9

-10.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 MX$763

$44.12 $44.12

0.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,379

$95.3 $95.3

-15.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 MX$1,596

$107 $107

-13.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 MX$18.3K

$863 $863

23.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MX$6,719

$718 $718

-45.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 MX$37.0K

$1,464 $1,464

46.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 MX$21.9K

$1,159 $1,159

9.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$68.9K

$2,702 $2,702

48.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.0K

$2,405 $2,405

170.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.1K

$8,357 $8,357

-90.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

6.18

85.28%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Last update for Athens, TN: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $863 in Athens, TN. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 1002% higher in Athens, TN, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $116 in Athens, TN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $399 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Athens, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Athens, TN costs about 64% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,109 in Athens, TN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen and $116 in Athens, TN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 45% more in Athens, TN, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in Athens, TN at $2,072. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Athens, TN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,266 versus $2,072 in Athens, TN. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Athens, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.