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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $355 in Maroua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Playa del Carmen versus $517 in Maroua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Playa del Carmen versus $679 in Maroua.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 255% more expensive than in Maroua, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Maroua 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 MX$203

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.89 MX$725

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 MX$182

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.0

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

$1.51 MX$26.10

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 MX$15.83

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 MX$51.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 MX$76.3

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MX$24.16

$1.80 FCFA 1,025

-22.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.60

$0.84 FCFA 475

123.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 MX$26.97

$2.97 FCFA 1,689

-47.47%

Eggs

$2.61 MX$45.14

$2.83 FCFA 1,609

-7.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 MX$144

$5.34 FCFA 3,034

55.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.35 MX$145

$5.16 FCFA 2,932

61.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 MX$188

$3.52 FCFA 1,998

208.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 MX$46.93

$1.79 FCFA 1,017

51.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$26.04

$0.85 FCFA 483

77.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.41

$0.85 FCFA 482

120.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.89

$1.78 FCFA 1,008

23.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.14

$2.66 FCFA 1,512

-30.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.59

$1.72 FCFA 975

29.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.48

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.79

$0.91 FCFA 517

19.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.4

Wine (Bottle)

$10.43 MX$180

$11.35 FCFA 6,442

-8.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 MX$28.68

$0.87 FCFA 492

90.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$45.19

$1.80 FCFA 1,023

45.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 MX$53.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.61

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.69

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

$29.8K MX$515.7K

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

$23.3K MX$403.5K

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

$81.3 MX$1,406

$53.2 FCFA 30.2K

52.84%

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

$22.56 MX$390

$8.92 FCFA 5,063

152.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.05 MX$520

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$915

$17.39 FCFA 9,872

204.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$318

$1.81 FCFA 1,028

916.02%

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MX$85.1

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

$201 MX$3,474

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$89.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.92 MX$622

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.13 MX$694

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 MX$1,379

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,496

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$978 MX$16.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MX$8,140

$89.8 FCFA 51.0K

423.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 MX$28.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 MX$20.8K

$158 FCFA 89.5K

663.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

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 Maroua: July 26, 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

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

Maroua is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 255% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,890 in Playa del Carmen and $532 in Maroua 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 $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $355 in Maroua – a 255% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $355 in Maroua versus $1,260 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 255% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.