🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,352 in Niamey.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,809 in Niamey.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,265 in Niamey.
🙂Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 5% less than in Niamey, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 4% below, Niamey is 1% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Niamey
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$5.33F CFA 2,992
124.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$39.67F CFA 22.3K
7.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$10.70F CFA 6,002
-1.03%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$3.21F CFA 1,801
12.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$1.47F CFA 822
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.64F CFA 357
46.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$1.30F CFA 731
137.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$3.13F CFA 1,755
42.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Niamey
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$2.53F CFA 1,418
-43.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$0.60F CFA 339
213.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$1.25F CFA 703
30.40%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$2.39F CFA 1,342
10.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$7.53F CFA 4,224
10.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$8.09F CFA 4,540
37.21%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$4.54F CFA 2,547
-41.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$1.50F CFA 839
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$2.96F CFA 1,658
-32.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$2.04F CFA 1,144
1.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$1.45F CFA 812
23.45%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$0.68F CFA 383
220.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$0.91F CFA 512
18.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$1.33F CFA 744
-21.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$2.63F CFA 1,473
50.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$10.54F CFA 5,912
-3.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.39F CFA 777
24.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$2.18F CFA 1,225
14.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Niamey
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$0.59F CFA 333
-11.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
$26.76F CFA 15.0K
0.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$0.42F CFA 235
647.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$0.42F CFA 233
471.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$6.11F CFA 3,428
-49.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$0.98F CFA 548
29.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$21.2KF CFA 11.9M
45.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$24.2KF CFA 13.6M
-3.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Niamey
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$359F CFA 201.1K
-77.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$17.44F CFA 9,780
28.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$8.98F CFA 5,037
230.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Niamey
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$62.7F CFA 35.2K
-17.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$8.72F CFA 4,893
114.11%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$4.95F CFA 2,775
0.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Niamey
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$1,008F CFA 565.6K
-80.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$4,894F CFA 2.7M
7.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Niamey
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$43.58F CFA 24.4K
-16.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$53.6F CFA 30.1K
-25.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$40.26F CFA 22.6K
98.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$49.46F CFA 27.7K
79.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Niamey
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$957F CFA 536.7K
0.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$444F CFA 249.1K
4.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$890F CFA 499.2K
79.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$456F CFA 256.0K
164.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$1,777F CFA 996.6K
121.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$1,015F CFA 569.4K
535.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Niamey
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$323F CFA 181.4K
122.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
11
3.82%
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 Niamey: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $957 in Niamey. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 123% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $40.00 in Niamey for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $219 per month, with Niamey 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 Niamey: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Niamey?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Niamey. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or Niamey?
Playa del Carmen pays 123% 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 Niamey?
Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $957 in Niamey. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen vs Niamey?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $40.00 in Niamey. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Niamey?
All in, you'll spend $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,352 in Niamey – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or Niamey?
At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,352 in Niamey, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Niamey. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Niamey?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,287 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Niamey. 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