🙂A single person spends $429 per month in Kumasi vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $717 per month in Kumasi vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,006 per month in Kumasi vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Kumasi is about 66% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Kumasi and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Kumasi68% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kumasi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.78GHS 30.63
$11.87MX$204
-76.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.23GHS 355
$42.90MX$736
-24.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.75GHS 85.2
$10.65MX$183
-27.23%
Cappuccino
$0.82GHS 9.07
$3.45MX$59.2
-76.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55GHS 6.09
$1.50MX$25.81
-63.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21GHS 2.30
$0.95MX$16.28
-77.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.83GHS 9.09
$3.03MX$51.9
-72.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59GHS 17.52
$4.61MX$79.1
-65.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kumasi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78GHS 19.56
$1.38MX$23.61
28.99%
White Bread(500g)
$1.49GHS 16.38
$1.85MX$31.70
-19.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.66GHS 18.28
$1.61MX$27.65
3.11%
Eggs
$2.18GHS 24.02
$2.59MX$44.51
-15.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.74GHS 63.2
$8.26MX$142
-30.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.46GHS 49.04
$8.37MX$144
-46.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.97GHS 54.7
$10.66MX$183
-53.38%
Apples(1kg)
$1.67GHS 18.39
$2.63MX$45.12
-36.50%
Banana(1kg)
$0.78GHS 8.58
$1.49MX$25.53
-47.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.78GHS 8.60
$1.92MX$32.94
-59.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.98GHS 21.82
$2.09MX$35.81
-5.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.69GHS 18.55
$1.86MX$31.88
-9.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.14GHS 12.51
$2.26MX$38.81
-49.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.76GHS 8.35
$1.06MX$18.23
-28.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52GHS 5.68
$1.09MX$18.67
-52.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.78GHS 8.58
$4.15MX$71.2
-81.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$1.24GHS 13.60
$10.39MX$178
-88.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12GHS 12.29
$1.72MX$29.59
-34.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86GHS 20.50
$2.61MX$44.85
-28.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Kumasi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39GHS 4.28
$0.54MX$9.30
-27.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.86GHS 218
$26.94MX$462
-26.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.84GHS 9.27
$3.13MX$53.7
-73.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.17GHS 12.90
$2.51MX$43.09
-53.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.60GHS 17.61
$3.15MX$54.1
-49.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10GHS 12.12
$1.27MX$21.88
-13.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$7,965GHS 87.6K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
-73.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$9,648GHS 106.1K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
-59.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kumasi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.78GHS 449
$83.0MX$1,425
-50.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.14GHS 145
$22.71MX$390
-42.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.13GHS 408
$29.46MX$506
26.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kumasi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.70GHS 316
$51.0MX$875
-43.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.33MX$315
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.47GHS 104
$4.93MX$84.5
92.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kumasi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$72.0GHS 792
$197MX$3,386
-63.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,500GHS 60.5K
$5,280MX$90.6K
4.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kumasi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.78GHS 163
$36.90MX$633
-59.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.51GHS 204
$39.89MX$685
-53.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$29.41GHS 324
$80.0MX$1,373
-63.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.83GHS 460
$89.5MX$1,536
-53.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kumasi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$956MX$16.4K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$477MX$8,189
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,646MX$28.3K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,225MX$21.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,918MX$67.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,459MX$110.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kumasi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$313GHS 3,445
$667MX$11.4K
-53.04%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 113% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $157 vs $250 – 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 Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $429 in Kumasi, $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 196% 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 $643 per month in Kumasi and $1,906 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 59% 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 $43.00 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 $429, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. 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 $429 in Kumasi to $1,271 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.