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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $438 per month in Bangui vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $698 per month in Bangui vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $957 per month in Bangui vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Bangui is about 66% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Bangui and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Bangui 67% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.94 MX$208

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.75 MX$744

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 MX$184

Cappuccino

$3.62 MX$63.0

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

$1.47 MX$25.54

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 FCFA 976

$0.94 MX$16.41

85.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 FCFA 1,952

$3.09 MX$53.8

12.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.44 FCFA 3,047

$4.46 MX$77.6

21.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$5.35 FCFA 2,998

$1.43 MX$24.80

274.13%

White Bread (500g)

$4.51 FCFA 2,528

$1.88 MX$32.79

139.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.38 FCFA 2,456

$1.63 MX$28.34

168.71%

Eggs

$5.33 FCFA 2,984

$2.64 MX$45.99

101.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.64 FCFA 4,842

$8.21 MX$143

5.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.99 FCFA 5,038

$8.29 MX$144

8.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.50 FCFA 1,963

$11.10 MX$193

-68.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 MX$46.14

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$26.11

Oranges (1kg)

$7.17 FCFA 4,019

$1.99 MX$34.59

260.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.14 FCFA 2,879

$2.08 MX$36.13

147.12%

Potato (1kg)

$4.49 FCFA 2,516

$1.79 MX$31.11

150.84%

Onion (1kg)

$6.20 FCFA 3,474

$2.18 MX$37.87

184.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.63 FCFA 1,476

$1.08 MX$18.73

143.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 FCFA 1,526

$1.04 MX$18.04

161.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.48 FCFA 2,510

$3.97 MX$69.1

12.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.05 FCFA 6,749

$10.20 MX$178

18.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$6.04 FCFA 3,386

$1.73 MX$30.04

249.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 FCFA 2,444

$2.50 MX$43.46

74.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 MX$9.02

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$469

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 MX$54.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.80

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 MX$53.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.61 FCFA 1,461

$1.27 MX$22.16

105.51%

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

$30.9K MX$537.3K

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

$23.3K MX$405.7K

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

$82.0 MX$1,427

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

$22.45 MX$391

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 MX$516

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 MX$903

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 MX$86.5

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

$198 MX$3,442

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,273 MX$91.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.34 MX$632

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.05 MX$697

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 MX$1,390

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,547

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,320 FCFA 739.3K

$963 MX$16.8K

36.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MX$8,086

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,596 MX$27.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 MX$21.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,942 MX$68.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,726 FCFA 966.8K

$6,448 MX$112.2K

-73.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$720 MX$12.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for Bangui: April 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,320 in Bangui 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.

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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 194%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $658 per month in Bangui and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bangui, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $438 in Bangui and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 62% cheaper in Playa del Carmen – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bangui, where all-in costs run around $438, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Bangui it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bangui – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Bangui. 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.