🙂A single person spends $440 per month in Kumasi vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $721 per month in Kumasi vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,003 per month in Kumasi vs $3,082 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 – Kumasi67% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kumasi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.79GHS 31.24
$11.94MX$209
-76.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.18GHS 360
$42.75MX$748
-24.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.85GHS 87.8
$10.59MX$185
-25.87%
Cappuccino
$0.87GHS 9.74
$3.62MX$63.4
-75.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60GHS 6.76
$1.47MX$25.69
-59.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23GHS 2.58
$0.94MX$16.51
-75.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.83GHS 9.27
$3.09MX$54.1
-73.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54GHS 17.26
$4.46MX$78.0
-65.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kumasi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79GHS 20.08
$1.43MX$24.94
25.17%
White Bread(500g)
$1.44GHS 16.13
$1.88MX$32.97
-23.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63GHS 18.23
$1.63MX$28.50
-
Eggs
$2.19GHS 24.46
$2.64MX$46.26
-17.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.75GHS 64.3
$8.21MX$144
-29.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.40GHS 49.19
$8.29MX$145
-46.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.91GHS 55.0
$11.10MX$194
-55.77%
Apples(1kg)
$1.67GHS 18.72
$2.65MX$46.40
-36.98%
Banana(1kg)
$0.81GHS 9.03
$1.50MX$26.26
-46.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.78GHS 8.72
$1.99MX$34.79
-60.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.89GHS 21.16
$2.08MX$36.33
-9.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.68GHS 18.82
$1.79MX$31.29
-6.15%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13GHS 12.62
$2.18MX$38.09
-48.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.74GHS 8.32
$1.08MX$18.84
-31.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48GHS 5.35
$1.04MX$18.15
-53.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.85GHS 9.52
$3.97MX$69.5
-78.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$1.25GHS 14.03
$10.20MX$179
-87.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11GHS 12.39
$1.73MX$30.22
-35.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89GHS 21.19
$2.50MX$43.71
-24.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Kumasi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39GHS 4.32
$0.52MX$9.07
-25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.12GHS 225
$26.97MX$472
-25.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.80GHS 8.99
$3.14MX$55.0
-74.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.22GHS 13.61
$2.40MX$42.04
-49.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.69GHS 18.90
$3.09MX$54.0
-45.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10GHS 12.27
$1.27MX$22.28
-13.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,058GHS 90.2K
$30.9KMX$540.4K
-73.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$9,490GHS 106.2K
$23.3KMX$408.0K
-59.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kumasi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.42GHS 452
$82.0MX$1,435
-50.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.03GHS 146
$22.45MX$393
-41.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.10GHS 426
$29.66MX$519
28.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kumasi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.57GHS 320
$51.9MX$908
-44.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.67MX$327
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.50GHS 106
$4.97MX$87.0
91.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kumasi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$72.1GHS 807
$198MX$3,462
-63.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,431GHS 60.8K
$5,273MX$92.3K
2.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kumasi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.38GHS 161
$36.34MX$636
-60.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.52GHS 207
$40.05MX$701
-53.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$28.81GHS 322
$79.9MX$1,398
-63.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.09GHS 460
$88.9MX$1,555
-53.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kumasi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$963MX$16.9K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$465MX$8,133
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,596MX$27.9K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,209MX$21.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,942MX$69.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,448MX$112.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kumasi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$314GHS 3,518
$720MX$12.6K
-56.36%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 129% 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: $155 vs $251 – 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: $440 in Kumasi, $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 193% 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 $659 per month in Kumasi and $1,930 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 62% 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 $440, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. 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 $440 in Kumasi to $1,287 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.