🙂A single person spends $725 per month in Abomey-Calavi vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,163 per month in Abomey-Calavi vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,601 per month in Abomey-Calavi vs $2,990 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 Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.67F CFA 3,219
$11.72MX$203
-51.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.69F CFA 15.2K
$41.89MX$725
-36.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.50F CFA 4,824
$10.51MX$182
-19.12%
Cappuccino
$4.99F CFA 2,835
$3.59MX$62.0
39.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18F CFA 670
$1.51MX$26.10
-21.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79F CFA 1,017
$0.92MX$15.83
94.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.81F CFA 1,025
$2.96MX$51.2
-38.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.42F CFA 3,077
$4.41MX$76.3
22.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18F CFA 1,238
$1.40MX$24.16
55.71%
White Bread(500g)
$0.25F CFA 141
$1.88MX$32.60
-86.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.06F CFA 1,169
$1.56MX$26.97
32.05%
Eggs
$2.00F CFA 1,134
$2.61MX$45.14
-23.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.56F CFA 2,022
$8.32MX$144
-57.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.01F CFA 2,277
$8.35MX$145
-51.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.36F CFA 3,610
$10.86MX$188
-41.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.26F CFA 1,282
$2.71MX$46.93
-16.61%
Banana(1kg)
$0.84F CFA 476
$1.51MX$26.04
-44.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.73F CFA 415
$1.87MX$32.41
-60.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16F CFA 1,228
$2.19MX$37.89
-1.37%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94F CFA 536
$1.86MX$32.14
-49.46%
Onion(1kg)
$0.82F CFA 464
$2.23MX$38.59
-63.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.73F CFA 412
$1.07MX$18.48
-31.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91F CFA 516
$1.09MX$18.79
-16.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.43F CFA 243
$4.19MX$72.4
-89.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.95F CFA 6,219
$10.43MX$180
4.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.95F CFA 541
$1.66MX$28.68
-42.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12F CFA 634
$2.61MX$45.19
-57.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.54MX$9.37
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.86F CFA 4,460
$26.16MX$453
-69.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.73F CFA 984
$3.08MX$53.3
-43.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.63F CFA 924
$2.40MX$41.61
-32.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.13MX$54.1
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25F CFA 707
$1.31MX$22.69
-4.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$29.8KMX$515.7K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.3KMX$403.5K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123F CFA 69.8K
$81.3MX$1,406
51.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.08F CFA 11.4K
$22.56MX$390
-10.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$89.4F CFA 50.8K
$30.05MX$520
197.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.39F CFA 20.1K
$52.9MX$915
-33.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.19F CFA 2,946
$18.39MX$318
-71.78%
Cinema Ticket
$6.34F CFA 3,602
$4.92MX$85.1
28.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$201MX$3,474
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,175MX$89.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.37F CFA 9,861
$35.92MX$622
-51.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$8.87F CFA 5,034
$40.13MX$694
-77.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$26.05F CFA 14.8K
$79.7MX$1,379
-67.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$26.03F CFA 14.8K
$86.5MX$1,496
-69.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$101F CFA 57.5K
$978MX$16.9K
-89.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$74.3F CFA 42.2K
$470MX$8,140
-84.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$225F CFA 127.5K
$1,651MX$28.6K
-86.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$282F CFA 160.1K
$1,203MX$20.8K
-76.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,953MX$68.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,607MX$114.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abomey-Calavi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$85.4F CFA 48.5K
$677MX$11.7K
-87.38%
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $101 in Abomey-Calavi versus $978 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 693% 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 $27.00 in Abomey-Calavi versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $168 vs $252 – 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 $1,088 per month in Abomey-Calavi and $1,890 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 $725 in Abomey-Calavi and $1,260 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 $27.00 in Abomey-Calavi and $42.00 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 $725, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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