Cost of Living Comparison Between Abomey-Calavi and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Abomey-Calavi and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $746 per month in Abomey-Calavi vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,157 per month in Abomey-Calavi vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,568 per month in Abomey-Calavi vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Abomey-Calavi is about 41% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Abomey-Calavi and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Abomey-Calavi 45% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.82 F CFA 3,284
$11.87 MX$204
-50.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.98 F CFA 14.7K
$42.90 MX$736
-39.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.54 F CFA 4,821
$10.65 MX$183
-19.81%
Cappuccino
$4.75 F CFA 2,681
$3.45 MX$59.2
37.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 F CFA 644
$1.50 MX$25.81
-24.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 F CFA 1,022
$0.95 MX$16.28
90.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 F CFA 974
$3.03 MX$51.9
-43.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.41 F CFA 3,057
$4.61 MX$79.1
17.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 F CFA 1,258
$1.38 MX$23.61
61.59%
White Bread (500g)
$0.25 F CFA 141
$1.85 MX$31.70
-86.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.05 F CFA 1,158
$1.61 MX$27.65
27.33%
Eggs
$2.03 F CFA 1,147
$2.59 MX$44.51
-21.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.56 F CFA 2,012
$8.26 MX$142
-56.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.95 F CFA 2,230
$8.37 MX$144
-52.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.34 F CFA 3,578
$10.66 MX$183
-40.53%
Apples (1kg)
$2.15 F CFA 1,213
$2.63 MX$45.12
-18.25%
Banana (1kg)
$0.89 F CFA 503
$1.49 MX$25.53
-40.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.68 F CFA 385
$1.92 MX$32.94
-64.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 F CFA 1,206
$2.09 MX$35.81
1.91%
Potato (1kg)
$0.94 F CFA 531
$1.86 MX$31.88
-49.46%
Onion (1kg)
$0.81 F CFA 455
$2.26 MX$38.81
-64.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 F CFA 418
$1.06 MX$18.23
-30.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 F CFA 516
$1.09 MX$18.67
-16.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$0.45 F CFA 256
$4.15 MX$71.2
-89.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.93 F CFA 6,174
$10.39 MX$178
5.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 F CFA 556
$1.72 MX$29.59
-43.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 F CFA 635
$2.61 MX$44.85
-57.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.54 MX$9.30
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.77 F CFA 4,388
$26.94 MX$462
-71.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.71 F CFA 965
$3.13 MX$53.7
-45.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 F CFA 879
$2.51 MX$43.09
-37.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.15 MX$54.1
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 F CFA 688
$1.27 MX$21.88
-3.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$30.4K MX$521.3K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.6K MX$404.5K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 F CFA 70.4K
$83.0 MX$1,425
50.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.23 F CFA 11.4K
$22.71 MX$390
-10.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$89.1 F CFA 50.3K
$29.46 MX$506
202.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.09 F CFA 19.8K
$51.0 MX$875
-31.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.17 F CFA 2,917
$18.33 MX$315
-71.79%
Cinema Ticket
$6.10 F CFA 3,444
$4.93 MX$84.5
23.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$197 MX$3,386
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$5,280 MX$90.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.72 F CFA 10.0K
$36.90 MX$633
-51.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$8.60 F CFA 4,858
$39.89 MX$685
-78.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$26.12 F CFA 14.8K
$80.0 MX$1,373
-67.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$26.39 F CFA 14.9K
$89.5 MX$1,536
-70.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$100 F CFA 56.7K
$956 MX$16.4K
-89.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$74.7 F CFA 42.2K
$477 MX$8,189
-84.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$220 F CFA 124.2K
$1,646 MX$28.3K
-86.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$282 F CFA 159.2K
$1,225 MX$21.0K
-76.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,918 MX$67.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,459 MX$110.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$86.6 F CFA 48.9K
$667 MX$11.4K
-87.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
11.42
-

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

Last update for Abomey-Calavi: June 6, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $100 in Abomey-Calavi versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. 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 671% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $26.00 in Abomey-Calavi versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $167 vs $250 – making Abomey-Calavi 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
Abomey-Calavi vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Abomey-Calavi?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 70%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,118 per month in Abomey-Calavi and $1,906 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Abomey-Calavi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Abomey-Calavi vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $746 in Abomey-Calavi and $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is eating out cheaper in Abomey-Calavi or Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Abomey-Calavi and $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Abomey-Calavi or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Abomey-Calavi, where all-in costs run around $746, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Abomey-Calavi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Abomey-Calavi or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Abomey-Calavi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Abomey-Calavi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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