🙂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-Calavi45% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.82F CFA 3,284
$11.87MX$204
-50.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.98F CFA 14.7K
$42.90MX$736
-39.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.54F CFA 4,821
$10.65MX$183
-19.81%
Cappuccino
$4.75F CFA 2,681
$3.45MX$59.2
37.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14F CFA 644
$1.50MX$25.81
-24.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81F CFA 1,022
$0.95MX$16.28
90.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72F CFA 974
$3.03MX$51.9
-43.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.41F CFA 3,057
$4.61MX$79.1
17.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23F CFA 1,258
$1.38MX$23.61
61.59%
White Bread(500g)
$0.25F CFA 141
$1.85MX$31.70
-86.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.05F CFA 1,158
$1.61MX$27.65
27.33%
Eggs
$2.03F CFA 1,147
$2.59MX$44.51
-21.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.56F CFA 2,012
$8.26MX$142
-56.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.95F CFA 2,230
$8.37MX$144
-52.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.34F CFA 3,578
$10.66MX$183
-40.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.15F CFA 1,213
$2.63MX$45.12
-18.25%
Banana(1kg)
$0.89F CFA 503
$1.49MX$25.53
-40.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.68F CFA 385
$1.92MX$32.94
-64.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.13F CFA 1,206
$2.09MX$35.81
1.91%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94F CFA 531
$1.86MX$31.88
-49.46%
Onion(1kg)
$0.81F CFA 455
$2.26MX$38.81
-64.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.74F CFA 418
$1.06MX$18.23
-30.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91F CFA 516
$1.09MX$18.67
-16.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.45F CFA 256
$4.15MX$71.2
-89.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.93F CFA 6,174
$10.39MX$178
5.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98F CFA 556
$1.72MX$29.59
-43.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12F CFA 635
$2.61MX$44.85
-57.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.54MX$9.30
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.77F CFA 4,388
$26.94MX$462
-71.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.71F CFA 965
$3.13MX$53.7
-45.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.56F CFA 879
$2.51MX$43.09
-37.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.15MX$54.1
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22F CFA 688
$1.27MX$21.88
-3.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$30.4KMX$521.3K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.6KMX$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)
$125F CFA 70.4K
$83.0MX$1,425
50.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.23F CFA 11.4K
$22.71MX$390
-10.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$89.1F CFA 50.3K
$29.46MX$506
202.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.09F CFA 19.8K
$51.0MX$875
-31.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.17F CFA 2,917
$18.33MX$315
-71.79%
Cinema Ticket
$6.10F CFA 3,444
$4.93MX$84.5
23.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$197MX$3,386
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,280MX$90.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.72F CFA 10.0K
$36.90MX$633
-51.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$8.60F CFA 4,858
$39.89MX$685
-78.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$26.12F CFA 14.8K
$80.0MX$1,373
-67.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$26.39F CFA 14.9K
$89.5MX$1,536
-70.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$100F CFA 56.7K
$956MX$16.4K
-89.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$74.7F CFA 42.2K
$477MX$8,189
-84.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$220F CFA 124.2K
$1,646MX$28.3K
-86.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$282F CFA 159.2K
$1,225MX$21.0K
-76.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,918MX$67.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,459MX$110.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$86.6F CFA 48.9K
$667MX$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.
Abomey-Calavi vs other spots: cost of living compared