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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $71.3 in Cabinda, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,460 in Cabinda, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,848 in Cabinda, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 1668% more than Cabinda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Cabinda are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Cabinda 95% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 MX$203

$7.67 AOA 7,001

52.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.89 MX$727

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 MX$182

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.2

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

$1.51 MX$26.16

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 MX$15.87

$2.38 AOA 2,173

-61.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 MX$51.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 MX$76.5

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MX$24.21

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.68

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 MX$27.03

Eggs

$2.61 MX$45.25

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 MX$144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.35 MX$145

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 MX$188

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 MX$47.04

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$26.11

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.49

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.98

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.21

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.68

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.53

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.84

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.6

Wine (Bottle)

$10.43 MX$181

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 MX$28.75

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$45.30

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.39

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$454

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 MX$53.4

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.71

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.74

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

$29.8K MX$517.0K

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

$23.3K MX$404.5K

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

$81.3 MX$1,410

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

$22.56 MX$391

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.05 MX$521

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$918

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$319

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MX$85.3

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

$201 MX$3,483

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$89.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.92 MX$623

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.13 MX$696

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 MX$1,382

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,500

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$978 MX$17.0K

$630 AOA 575.2K

55.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MX$8,160

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 MX$28.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 MX$20.9K

$2,743 AOA 2.5M

-56.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MX$11.7K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Cabinda: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $630 in Cabinda. 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 Cabinda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 1668%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $107 in Cabinda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cabinda, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cabinda, where all-in costs run around $71.3, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Cabinda it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cabinda – 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 Cabinda. 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.