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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $438 in Bangui, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $698 in Bangui, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $957 in Bangui, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 194% more than Bangui, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Bangui are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Bangui 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.94 MX$209

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.75 MX$748

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 MX$185

Cappuccino

$3.62 MX$63.4

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

$1.47 MX$25.69

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 MX$16.51

$1.74 FCFA 977

-45.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 MX$54.1

$3.48 FCFA 1,954

-11.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MX$78.0

$5.44 FCFA 3,051

-18.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

$5.35 FCFA 3,001

-73.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.97

$4.51 FCFA 2,531

-58.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 MX$28.50

$4.38 FCFA 2,459

-62.79%

Eggs

$2.64 MX$46.26

$5.33 FCFA 2,988

-50.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.21 MX$144

$8.64 FCFA 4,848

-4.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$145

$8.99 FCFA 5,044

-7.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.10 MX$194

$3.50 FCFA 1,966

217.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 MX$46.40

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$26.26

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.79

$7.17 FCFA 4,023

-72.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.33

$5.14 FCFA 2,882

-59.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 MX$31.29

$4.49 FCFA 2,519

-60.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$38.09

$6.20 FCFA 3,478

-64.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.84

$2.63 FCFA 1,477

-58.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 MX$18.15

$2.72 FCFA 1,527

-61.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 MX$69.5

$4.48 FCFA 2,513

-11.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 MX$179

$12.05 FCFA 6,756

-15.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.22

$6.04 FCFA 3,390

-71.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 MX$43.71

$4.36 FCFA 2,447

-42.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 MX$9.07

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$472

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 MX$55.0

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$42.04

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 MX$54.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$22.28

$2.61 FCFA 1,462

-51.34%

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

$30.9K MX$540.4K

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

$23.3K MX$408.0K

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

$82.0 MX$1,435

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

$22.45 MX$393

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 MX$519

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 MX$908

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$327

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 MX$87.0

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

$198 MX$3,462

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,273 MX$92.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.34 MX$636

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.05 MX$701

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 MX$1,398

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,555

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$963 MX$16.9K

$1,320 FCFA 740.1K

-27.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MX$8,133

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,596 MX$27.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 MX$21.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,942 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,448 MX$112.8K

$1,726 FCFA 968.0K

273.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$720 MX$12.6K

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 Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Last update for Bangui: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,320 in Bangui. 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 194%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $658 in Bangui. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bangui, 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 $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $438 in Bangui. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 62% cheaper in Playa del Carmen – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bangui, where all-in costs run around $438, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Bangui it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bangui – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Bangui. 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.