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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $817 per month in Calabar vs $1,215 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,137 per month in Calabar vs $2,144 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,456 per month in Calabar vs $3,072 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Calabar is about 33% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Calabar and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Calabar 39% lower, Playa del Carmen 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.13 ₦1,493

$10.97 MX$197

-89.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.85 MX$806

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.92 MX$214

Cappuccino

$3.80 MX$68.4

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

$0.37 ₦484

$1.31 MX$23.57

-71.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 ₦245

$0.86 MX$15.39

-79.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.94 ₦1,240

$3.21 MX$57.7

-70.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 ₦1,636

$5.01 MX$90.1

-75.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 MX$26.20

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₦1,756

$2.33 MX$41.81

-42.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 ₦2,043

$1.44 MX$25.92

6.94%

Eggs

$2.46 MX$44.23

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.70 MX$138

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.89 MX$142

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.80 MX$230

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 MX$52.4

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 MX$25.55

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MX$46.10

Tomato (1kg)

$2.14 MX$38.41

Potato (1kg)

$1.95 MX$34.99

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 MX$34.79

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 MX$20.68

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₦626

$1.22 MX$21.94

-61.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.38 MX$78.6

Wine (Bottle)

$4.57 ₦6,048

$9.85 MX$177

-53.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 ₦1,494

$1.54 MX$27.63

-26.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₦1,977

$2.72 MX$48.80

-45.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 MX$9.43

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.42 MX$493

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.91 MX$88.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.52 MX$63.3

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.69 MX$102

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$27.67

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

$21.2K MX$381.7K

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

$24.5K MX$440.0K

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

$83.6 MX$1,502

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

$24.03 MX$432

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.33 MX$527

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.9 MX$1,166

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.46 MX$529

Cinema Ticket

$5.09 MX$91.4

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

$208 MX$3,732

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,045 MX$72.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.55 MX$801

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.06 MX$756

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.5 MX$1,357

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.4 MX$1,642

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 ₦1.5M

$986 MX$17.7K

12.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$754 ₦998.3K

$385 MX$6,921

95.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,898 ₦2.5M

$1,713 MX$30.8K

10.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,367 ₦1.8M

$1,108 MX$19.9K

23.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,016 MX$72.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,247 MX$112.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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

Last update for Calabar: October 3, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 4, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,114 in Calabar versus $986 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $817 in Calabar, $1,215 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 49% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,226 per month in Calabar and $1,823 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 Calabar, 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 $817 in Calabar and $1,215 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 507% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Calabar, where all-in costs run around $817, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,215. In Calabar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $817 in Calabar to $1,215 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Calabar. 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.