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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $352 in Maroua versus $1,294 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $513 in Maroua versus $2,189 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $675 in Maroua versus $3,084 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Maroua costs roughly 73% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Maroua 74% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$202

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$719

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.41 MX$179

Cappuccino

$3.61 MX$62.1

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

$1.46 MX$25.06

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.70

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 MX$50.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.62 MX$79.5

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 FCFA 1,015

$1.43 MX$24.59

25.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 FCFA 479

$1.90 MX$32.70

-55.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.94 FCFA 1,659

$1.57 MX$26.95

87.26%

Eggs

$2.72 FCFA 1,535

$2.64 MX$45.34

3.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.36 FCFA 3,026

$8.44 MX$145

-36.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.43 FCFA 3,064

$8.58 MX$148

-36.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.59 FCFA 2,025

$11.00 MX$189

-67.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.80 FCFA 1,014

$2.70 MX$46.51

-33.33%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 FCFA 487

$1.51 MX$25.92

-43.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.84 FCFA 475

$1.91 MX$32.93

-56.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.78 FCFA 1,004

$2.17 MX$37.37

-17.97%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 FCFA 1,505

$1.87 MX$32.25

42.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.79 FCFA 1,013

$2.23 MX$38.43

-19.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 FCFA 517

$1.07 MX$18.47

-14.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 MX$71.6

Wine (Bottle)

$11.62 FCFA 6,557

$10.29 MX$177

12.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 FCFA 482

$1.68 MX$28.95

-49.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 FCFA 1,004

$2.53 MX$43.59

-29.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 MX$9.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.29 MX$452

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 MX$55.0

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.46 MX$42.37

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 MX$55.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$22.72

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

$30.2K MX$518.8K

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

$23.4K MX$402.5K

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

$53.3 FCFA 30.1K

$81.4 MX$1,400

-34.53%

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

$9.00 FCFA 5,079

$22.41 MX$386

-59.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.97 MX$516

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.34 FCFA 9,790

$51.6 MX$887

-66.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.78 FCFA 1,003

$18.39 MX$316

-90.32%

Cinema Ticket

$5.16 MX$88.9

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

$202 MX$3,471

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,311 MX$91.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.61 MX$613

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.37 MX$695

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.6 MX$1,353

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.9 MX$1,495

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$950 MX$16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$87.7 FCFA 49.5K

$478 MX$8,227

-81.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 MX$27.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$160 FCFA 90.3K

$1,223 MX$21.0K

-86.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,009 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,473 MX$111.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$673 MX$11.6K

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 Maroua: June 14, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026

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

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

Maroua is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 268% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $528 in Maroua and $1,941 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $352 per month in Maroua versus $1,294 in Playa del Carmen – a 268% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $352 in Maroua versus $1,294 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maroua but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Maroua the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Maroua is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Maroua gentler on the wallet – expenses run 268% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.