🙂A single person spends $744 per month in Abomey-Calavi vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,164 per month in Abomey-Calavi vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,584 per month in Abomey-Calavi vs $3,292 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-Calavi46% lower, Playa del Carmen7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.55F CFA 3,174
$11.60MX$200
-52.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.00F CFA 14.9K
$47.11MX$812
-44.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.13F CFA 4,647
$11.88MX$205
-31.57%
Cappuccino
$4.89F CFA 2,793
$3.98MX$68.6
22.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12F CFA 638
$1.43MX$24.60
-21.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75F CFA 998
$0.82MX$14.22
113.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.81F CFA 1,034
$3.19MX$55.0
-43.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.25F CFA 3,002
$6.79MX$117
-22.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.16F CFA 1,237
$1.68MX$28.89
28.57%
White Bread(500g)
$0.25F CFA 142
$2.20MX$37.88
-88.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07F CFA 1,184
$1.71MX$29.45
21.05%
Eggs
$2.06F CFA 1,177
$2.74MX$47.26
-24.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.55F CFA 2,027
$9.58MX$165
-62.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.86F CFA 2,207
$9.01MX$155
-57.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.14F CFA 3,511
$12.81MX$221
-52.07%
Apples(1kg)
$2.16F CFA 1,233
$2.89MX$49.81
-25.26%
Banana(1kg)
$0.92F CFA 526
$1.50MX$25.81
-38.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.67F CFA 382
$2.15MX$37.03
-68.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.05F CFA 1,173
$2.26MX$38.96
-9.29%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94F CFA 536
$1.98MX$34.15
-52.53%
Onion(1kg)
$0.82F CFA 468
$1.99MX$34.30
-58.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67F CFA 383
$1.23MX$21.28
-45.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90F CFA 515
$1.20MX$20.63
-25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.42F CFA 243
$4.55MX$78.5
-90.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.05F CFA 6,317
$10.37MX$179
6.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99F CFA 567
$1.62MX$27.91
-38.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17F CFA 667
$2.88MX$49.67
-59.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.60MX$10.35
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.69F CFA 4,396
$28.80MX$497
-73.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.74F CFA 992
$5.39MX$92.9
-67.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.75F CFA 998
$3.73MX$64.3
-53.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.77MX$99.5
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24F CFA 709
$1.54MX$26.48
-19.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$22.5KMX$388.8K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.1KMX$449.3K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$121F CFA 69.4K
$91.4MX$1,576
32.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.29F CFA 11.6K
$25.20MX$435
-19.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$89.5F CFA 51.1K
$31.24MX$539
186.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.48F CFA 20.3K
$67.2MX$1,159
-47.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.25F CFA 3,001
$29.11MX$502
-81.96%
Cinema Ticket
$6.12F CFA 3,497
$4.86MX$83.8
25.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$224MX$3,856
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$4,229MX$72.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.53F CFA 10.0K
$47.10MX$812
-62.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$8.88F CFA 5,075
$44.29MX$764
-79.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$26.47F CFA 15.1K
$80.1MX$1,381
-66.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$26.31F CFA 15.0K
$92.7MX$1,598
-71.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$103F CFA 59.0K
$1,063MX$18.3K
-90.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$76.1F CFA 43.5K
$390MX$6,728
-80.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$220F CFA 125.5K
$2,149MX$37.1K
-89.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$283F CFA 161.6K
$1,272MX$21.9K
-77.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,001MX$69.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,502MX$112.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$89.3F CFA 51.0K
$758MX$13.1K
-88.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
11.45
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Abomey-Calavi: September 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $103 in Abomey-Calavi versus $1,063 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 749% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $166 vs $276 – 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 $1,116 per month in Abomey-Calavi and $1,899 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $744 in Abomey-Calavi and $1,266 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 in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Abomey-Calavi and $47.00 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 living in Abomey-Calavi or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Abomey-Calavi, where all-in costs run around $744, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. 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