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: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $346 in Maroua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $518 in Maroua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $689 in Maroua.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 272% more expensive than Maroua, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Maroua 74% 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

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 MX$54.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MX$78.0

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

$1.78 FCFA 1,001

-19.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.97

$0.86 FCFA 484

118.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 MX$28.50

$2.97 FCFA 1,668

-45.12%

Eggs

$2.64 MX$46.26

$2.75 FCFA 1,541

-4.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.21 MX$144

$5.45 FCFA 3,054

50.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$145

$5.20 FCFA 2,916

59.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.10 MX$194

$3.45 FCFA 1,933

221.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 MX$46.40

$1.80 FCFA 1,009

47.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$26.26

$0.91 FCFA 512

64.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.79

$0.89 FCFA 500

123.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.33

$1.72 FCFA 967

20.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 MX$31.29

$2.68 FCFA 1,503

-33.21%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$38.09

$1.79 FCFA 1,005

21.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.84

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 MX$18.15

$0.90 FCFA 506

15.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 MX$69.5

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 MX$179

$11.73 FCFA 6,580

-13.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.22

$0.85 FCFA 477

103.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 MX$43.71

$1.78 FCFA 997

40.45%

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

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

$52.0 FCFA 29.2K

57.62%

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

$22.45 MX$393

$9.05 FCFA 5,073

148.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 MX$519

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 MX$908

$17.57 FCFA 9,855

195.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$327

$1.78 FCFA 1,001

948.88%

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-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MX$8,133

$87.0 FCFA 48.8K

434.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,596 MX$27.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 MX$21.2K

$158 FCFA 88.5K

666.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,942 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,448 MX$112.8K

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 Maroua: April 27, 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 272% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,930 in Playa del Carmen and $519 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 37% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $346 in Maroua – a 272% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $346 in Maroua versus $1,287 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 272% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.