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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $441 per month in Kumasi vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $735 per month in Kumasi vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,030 per month in Kumasi vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Kumasi is about 65% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Kumasi and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Kumasi 67% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kumasi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.82 GHS 32.95
$11.72 MX$203
-75.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.97 GHS 373
$41.89 MX$725
-23.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.59 GHS 88.6
$10.51 MX$182
-27.78%
Cappuccino
$0.81 GHS 9.48
$3.59 MX$62.0
-77.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 GHS 7.10
$1.51 MX$26.10
-59.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 GHS 2.44
$0.92 MX$15.83
-77.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.90 GHS 10.53
$2.96 MX$51.2
-69.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 GHS 17.97
$4.41 MX$76.3
-65.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kumasi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 GHS 20.87
$1.40 MX$24.16
27.86%
White Bread (500g)
$1.49 GHS 17.44
$1.88 MX$32.60
-20.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.67 GHS 19.50
$1.56 MX$26.97
7.05%
Eggs
$2.18 GHS 25.45
$2.61 MX$45.14
-16.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.90 GHS 68.9
$8.32 MX$144
-29.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.44 GHS 51.9
$8.35 MX$145
-46.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.69 GHS 54.8
$10.86 MX$188
-56.81%
Apples (1kg)
$1.68 GHS 19.66
$2.71 MX$46.93
-38.01%
Banana (1kg)
$0.80 GHS 9.36
$1.51 MX$26.04
-47.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.80 GHS 9.34
$1.87 MX$32.41
-57.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 GHS 22.95
$2.19 MX$37.89
-10.05%
Potato (1kg)
$1.68 GHS 19.60
$1.86 MX$32.14
-9.68%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 GHS 13.11
$2.23 MX$38.59
-49.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.80 GHS 9.37
$1.07 MX$18.48
-25.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 GHS 5.59
$1.09 MX$18.79
-55.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$0.84 GHS 9.82
$4.19 MX$72.4
-79.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$1.30 GHS 15.19
$10.43 MX$180
-87.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 GHS 13.17
$1.66 MX$28.68
-31.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 GHS 21.75
$2.61 MX$45.19
-28.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Kumasi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.42 GHS 4.88
$0.54 MX$9.37
-22.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.90 GHS 232
$26.16 MX$453
-23.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.83 GHS 9.70
$3.08 MX$53.3
-73.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.17 GHS 13.63
$2.40 MX$41.61
-51.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.62 GHS 18.96
$3.13 MX$54.1
-48.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 GHS 12.88
$1.31 MX$22.69
-16.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$7,848 GHS 91.7K
$29.8K MX$515.7K
-73.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$9,763 GHS 114.0K
$23.3K MX$403.5K
-58.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kumasi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.21 GHS 481
$81.3 MX$1,406
-49.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.12 GHS 153
$22.56 MX$390
-41.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.15 GHS 446
$30.05 MX$520
26.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kumasi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.31 GHS 331
$52.9 MX$915
-46.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39 MX$318
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.49 GHS 111
$4.92 MX$85.1
92.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kumasi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$72.2 GHS 843
$201 MX$3,474
-64.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,498 GHS 64.2K
$5,175 MX$89.5K
6.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kumasi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.42 GHS 168
$35.92 MX$622
-59.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.03 GHS 222
$40.13 MX$694
-52.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$28.90 GHS 338
$79.7 MX$1,379
-63.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.66 GHS 475
$86.5 MX$1,496
-52.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kumasi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$978 MX$16.9K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$470 MX$8,140
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,651 MX$28.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,203 MX$20.8K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,953 MX$68.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,607 MX$114.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kumasi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$308 GHS 3,592
$677 MX$11.7K
-54.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
25.4
11.42
122.42%

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

Last update for Kumasi: July 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 120% 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 $32.00 in Kumasi versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $157 vs $252 – making Kumasi 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
Kumasi vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Kumasi and in Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $441 in Kumasi, $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 186% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Kumasi compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $662 per month in Kumasi 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 cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 61% 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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Kumasi and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kumasi, where all-in costs run around $441, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Kumasi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Kumasi and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $441 in Kumasi to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Kumasi and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Kumasi. 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.

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