Athens vs Playa del Carmen: cost of living for digital nomads

Athens, Greece and Playa del Carmen, Mexico, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.

The short version

  • Playa del Carmen is about 2% cheaper than Athens for a month of nomad living ($1,670 vs $1,700).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $800 in Athens against $820 in Playa del Carmen.
  • Athens scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 7/10).
  • Internet is faster in Athens: 100 Mbps typical against 80 Mbps.
  • Athens is mediterranean; Playa del Carmen is tropical.

Athens wins 5 of the measured lines; Playa del Carmen wins 3.

LineAthensPlaya del Carmen
Monthly total (USD)$1,700$1,670
Rent$800$820
Food$440$430
Transport$40$50
Coworking$120$130
Safety (out of 10)8/107/10
Internet (Mbps)10080
Climatemediterraneantropical
City sizemetromid
Settingcoastcoast
Nomad score (out of 10)8/109/10

Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

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Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.