🙂A single person spends $741 per month in Abomey-Calavi vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,164 per month in Abomey-Calavi vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,587 per month in Abomey-Calavi vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Abomey-Calavi is about 42% 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 Carmen4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.82F CFA 3,263
$11.94MX$208
-51.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.01F CFA 14.6K
$42.75MX$744
-39.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22F CFA 4,606
$10.59MX$184
-22.38%
Cappuccino
$4.75F CFA 2,663
$3.62MX$63.0
31.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18F CFA 659
$1.47MX$25.54
-19.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79F CFA 1,001
$0.94MX$16.41
90.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.75F CFA 979
$3.09MX$53.8
-43.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.23F CFA 2,929
$4.46MX$77.6
17.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.28F CFA 1,275
$1.43MX$24.80
59.44%
White Bread(500g)
$0.27F CFA 153
$1.88MX$32.79
-85.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.00F CFA 1,121
$1.63MX$28.34
22.70%
Eggs
$1.96F CFA 1,099
$2.64MX$45.99
-25.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.60F CFA 2,019
$8.21MX$143
-56.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.03F CFA 2,256
$8.29MX$144
-51.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.22F CFA 3,483
$11.10MX$193
-43.96%
Apples(1kg)
$2.27F CFA 1,269
$2.65MX$46.14
-14.34%
Banana(1kg)
$0.90F CFA 502
$1.50MX$26.11
-40.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.69F CFA 384
$1.99MX$34.59
-65.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.10F CFA 1,179
$2.08MX$36.13
0.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02F CFA 569
$1.79MX$31.11
-43.02%
Onion(1kg)
$0.83F CFA 463
$2.18MX$37.87
-61.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.73F CFA 408
$1.08MX$18.73
-32.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90F CFA 503
$1.04MX$18.04
-13.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.43F CFA 239
$3.97MX$69.1
-89.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.08F CFA 6,207
$10.20MX$178
8.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96F CFA 536
$1.73MX$30.04
-44.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12F CFA 627
$2.50MX$43.46
-55.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.52MX$9.02
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.57F CFA 4,240
$26.97MX$469
-71.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.78F CFA 997
$3.14MX$54.7
-43.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.56F CFA 872
$2.40MX$41.80
-35.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.09MX$53.7
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26F CFA 705
$1.27MX$22.16
-0.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$30.9KMX$537.3K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.3KMX$405.7K
-
🧾 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 69.9K
$82.0MX$1,427
52.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.02F CFA 11.2K
$22.45MX$391
-10.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$89.7F CFA 50.2K
$29.66MX$516
202.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.17F CFA 19.7K
$51.9MX$903
-32.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.34F CFA 2,992
$18.67MX$325
-71.40%
Cinema Ticket
$6.16F CFA 3,449
$4.97MX$86.5
23.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$198MX$3,442
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,273MX$91.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.39F CFA 9,743
$36.34MX$632
-52.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$8.60F CFA 4,818
$40.05MX$697
-78.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$26.21F CFA 14.7K
$79.9MX$1,390
-67.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$26.48F CFA 14.8K
$88.9MX$1,547
-70.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$99.7F CFA 55.9K
$963MX$16.8K
-89.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$76.3F CFA 42.7K
$465MX$8,086
-83.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$219F CFA 122.7K
$1,596MX$27.8K
-86.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$277F CFA 155.1K
$1,209MX$21.0K
-77.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,942MX$68.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,448MX$112.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$89.4F CFA 50.1K
$720MX$12.5K
-87.58%
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: April 28, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $99.7 in Abomey-Calavi versus $963 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 705% 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: $168 vs $251 – 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 74%, 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 $1,112 per month in Abomey-Calavi and $1,930 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 $741 in Abomey-Calavi and $1,287 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 $741, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. 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