😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $250 in Ibadan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $558 in Ibadan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,362 in Playa del Carmen versus $866 in Ibadan.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 422% more expensive than in Ibadan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen5% lower, Ibadan82% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ibadan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96MX$203
$1.11₦1,476
977.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.38MX$804
$30.24₦40.1K
56.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.75MX$199
$6.09₦8,073
92.94%
Cappuccino
$4.12MX$70.0
$0.80₦1,066
415.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.74
$0.20₦265
600.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.48
$0.12₦153
658.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21MX$54.4
$0.58₦771
453.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07MX$120
$1.15₦1,528
514.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ibadan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.44
$0.59₦787
184.75%
White Bread(500g)
$2.15MX$36.48
$0.60₦791
258.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$30.10
$1.11₦1,476
59.46%
Eggs
$2.82MX$47.76
$1.53₦2,034
84.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20MX$156
$3.52₦4,667
161.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.23MX$157
$3.89₦5,153
137.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.64MX$214
$0.75₦993
1585.33%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$50.1
$1.67₦2,209
76.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58MX$26.79
$1.32₦1,743
19.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22MX$37.70
$1.13₦1,501
96.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.09
$0.29₦382
713.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.81
$0.58₦774
243.10%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98MX$33.58
$0.24₦319
725.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$21.04
$0.22₦290
463.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21MX$20.55
$0.14₦181
764.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60MX$78.1
$0.59₦784
679.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.52MX$178
$1.12₦1,482
839.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69MX$28.70
$0.41₦542
312.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77MX$47.06
$0.46₦616
502.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ibadan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.22
$0.12₦162
400.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.70MX$504
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.24MX$88.8
$0.70₦933
648.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.65MX$61.9
$0.62₦827
488.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$98.1
$1.13₦1,492
411.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.09
$0.55₦734
180.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$386.8K
$4,162₦5.5M
447.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KMX$437.9K
$14.0K₦18.5M
84.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ibadan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$90.7MX$1,538
$11.27₦14.9K
704.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19MX$427
$3.81₦5,047
561.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75MX$539
$9.06₦12.0K
250.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ibadan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,167
$21.77₦28.9K
215.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37MX$498
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$82.5
$1.54₦2,035
215.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ibadan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$226MX$3,828
$48.73₦64.6K
363.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,194MX$71.1K
$627₦831.4K
568.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ibadan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38MX$804
$12.16₦16.1K
289.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45MX$737
$5.80₦7,689
649.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.2MX$1,361
$15.07₦20.0K
432.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4MX$1,550
$21.64₦28.7K
322.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ibadan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,086MX$18.4K
$124₦164.4K
775.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$409MX$6,933
$45.33₦60.1K
801.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,972MX$33.5K
$461₦611.0K
327.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,281MX$21.7K
$308₦408.2K
316.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,046MX$68.6K
$875₦1.2M
362.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,704MX$113.7K
$30.87₦40.9K
21616.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ibadan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$773MX$13.1K
$58.2₦77.2K
1227.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
18.05
-36.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Last update for Ibadan: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen and $124 in Ibadan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 1228% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $30.00 in Ibadan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $278 vs $87.0 per month, with Ibadan cheaper across the board.
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 Ibadan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Ibadan?
Ibadan wins on cost – living expenses run 422% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ibadan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or in Ibadan?
Average pay runs 1228% higher in Playa del Carmen, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen compared to Ibadan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $124 in Ibadan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Ibadan?
Childcare runs $226 in Playa del Carmen versus $48.73 in Ibadan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Ibadan?
Dining out is cheaper in Ibadan – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Ibadan?
At $250 in Ibadan versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ibadan but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Ibadan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Ibadan?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ibadan delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $250 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ibadan hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ibadan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 422% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared