😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $812 in Ibadan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,520 in Ibadan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,229 in Ibadan.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 60% more expensive than Ibadan, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen3% lower, Ibadan39% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ibadan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$1.83₦2,488
540.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$719
$29.27₦39.8K
42.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$5.47₦7,426
94.52%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.8
$1.03₦1,405
241.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.09
$0.29₦395
420.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.82
$0.19₦260
410.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$0.76₦1,035
288.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$1.26₦1,714
253.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ibadan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.90
$2.35₦3,187
-41.28%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.69
$1.15₦1,563
64.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.29
$2.06₦2,802
-20.39%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.30
$1.72₦2,330
45.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$4.37₦5,943
90.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$4.29₦5,827
94.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$185
$4.18₦5,684
156.70%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.00
$2.47₦3,357
5.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.18
$1.21₦1,648
20.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.84
$1.24₦1,679
53.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.88
$1.63₦2,214
27.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.68
$2.16₦2,934
-17.59%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.76
$1.55₦2,109
41.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.97
$0.92₦1,254
13.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.60
$0.32₦439
237.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.5
$1.26₦1,705
223.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$1.02₦1,384
911.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.59
$0.63₦858
171.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.50
$0.89₦1,211
189.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ibadan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$0.36₦483
41.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$457
$36.42₦49.5K
-27.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$1.24₦1,681
162.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.05
$1.04₦1,417
139.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.1
$3.68₦5,005
-11.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.59
$0.57₦769
129.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.2K
$9,512₦12.9M
218.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$404.9K
$14.2K₦19.2M
65.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ibadan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,432
$20.99₦28.5K
294.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$7.46₦10.1K
197.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$19.75₦26.8K
48.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ibadan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$892
$29.50₦40.1K
75.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.5
$2.67₦3,628
89.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ibadan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,470
$50.4₦68.5K
298.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$1,910₦2.6M
172.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ibadan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$638
$18.37₦24.9K
100.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$24.43₦33.2K
62.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,356
$43.76₦59.4K
79.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,505
$29.58₦40.2K
194.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ibadan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$451₦612.8K
115.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,082
$433₦588.5K
7.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$1,214₦1.6M
35.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$1,291₦1.8M
-5.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.2K
$846₦1.1M
366.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.3K
$28.82₦39.1K
22446.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ibadan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
$55.9₦75.9K
1088.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
16.33
-30.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Last update for Ibadan: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $451 in Ibadan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 1089% 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: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $29.00 in Ibadan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $154 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 60% 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 Ibadan?
Playa del Carmen pays 1089% more on average, 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 vs Ibadan?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $451 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 Ibadan?
Childcare runs $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $50.4 in Ibadan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or Ibadan?
Supermarket bills run roughly 62% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or Ibadan?
At $812 in Ibadan versus $1,297 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 $812 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 60% 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