Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,121 in Abuja versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,034 in Abuja versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,947 in Abuja versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Abuja costs roughly 11% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Abuja 18% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.22 ₦2,940

$11.60 MX$200

-80.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.30 ₦40.1K

$47.11 MX$812

-35.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.44 ₦5,890

$11.88 MX$205

-62.63%

Cappuccino

$3.33 ₦4,407

$3.98 MX$68.6

-16.33%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₦682

$1.43 MX$24.60

-64.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₦943

$0.82 MX$14.22

-13.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 ₦1,414

$3.19 MX$55.0

-66.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 ₦2,767

$6.79 MX$117

-69.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.62 ₦4,796

$1.68 MX$28.89

115.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 ₦1,734

$2.20 MX$37.88

-40.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ₦2,881

$1.71 MX$29.45

26.90%

Eggs

$1.88 ₦2,489

$2.74 MX$47.26

-31.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.16 ₦14.8K

$9.58 MX$165

16.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.39 ₦7,143

$9.01 MX$155

-40.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.90 ₦7,824

$12.81 MX$221

-53.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.07 ₦2,741

$2.89 MX$49.81

-28.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 ₦1,891

$1.50 MX$25.81

-4.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 ₦2,003

$2.15 MX$37.03

-29.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 ₦3,131

$2.26 MX$38.96

4.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₦2,397

$1.98 MX$34.15

-8.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.49 ₦3,295

$1.99 MX$34.30

25.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 ₦741

$1.23 MX$21.28

-54.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₦492

$1.20 MX$20.63

-69.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.02 ₦2,671

$4.55 MX$78.5

-55.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.71 ₦7,568

$10.37 MX$179

-44.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₦1,583

$1.62 MX$27.91

-26.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 ₦2,452

$2.88 MX$49.67

-35.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₦481

$0.60 MX$10.35

-40.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.36 ₦42.9K

$28.80 MX$497

12.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 ₦821

$5.39 MX$92.9

-88.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.88 ₦1,163

$3.73 MX$64.3

-76.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₦2,483

$5.77 MX$99.5

-67.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 ₦719

$1.54 MX$26.48

-64.94%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.8K ₦34.2M

$22.5K MX$388.8K

14.45%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$18.2K ₦24.1M

$26.1K MX$449.3K

-30.22%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$111 ₦146.7K

$91.4 MX$1,576

21.16%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.61 ₦8,758

$25.20 MX$435

-73.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.79 ₦38.2K

$31.24 MX$539

-7.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.48 ₦48.3K

$67.2 MX$1,159

-45.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ₦14.7K

$29.11 MX$502

-61.97%

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 ₦6,603

$4.86 MX$83.8

2.47%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$44.89 ₦59.5K

$224 MX$3,856

-79.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,151 ₦4.2M

$4,229 MX$72.9K

-25.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.50 ₦33.8K

$47.10 MX$812

-45.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.6 ₦80.3K

$44.29 MX$764

36.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.5 ₦102.7K

$80.1 MX$1,381

-3.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₦140.2K

$92.7 MX$1,598

14.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,391 ₦1.8M

$1,063 MX$18.3K

30.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$455 ₦603.4K

$390 MX$6,728

16.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,403 ₦4.5M

$2,149 MX$37.1K

58.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,533 ₦2.0M

$1,272 MX$21.9K

20.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$701 ₦928.4K

$4,001 MX$69.0K

-82.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$380 ₦504.1K

$6,502 MX$112.1K

-94.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 ₦218.4K

$758 MX$13.1K

-78.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.5

11.45

96.51%

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

Last update for Abuja: September 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,391 in Abuja and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 360% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $30.00 in Abuja vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $219 vs $276 per month, with Abuja cheaper across the board.

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

Abuja vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Abuja and Playa del Carmen differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($1,121 vs $1,266 including rent). Abuja is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 360% lower in Playa del Carmen. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,391 in Abuja versus $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,121 per month in Abuja versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Abuja runs roughly 12% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,121 in Abuja versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Abuja but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Abuja the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Abuja gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.