😐A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,031 in Ouagadougou, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,699 in Ouagadougou, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,367 in Ouagadougou, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 22% more than Ouagadougou, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Ouagadougou are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen6% lower, Ouagadougou23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ouagadougou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$5.40F CFA 3,102
122.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
$23.98F CFA 13.8K
74.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$8.06F CFA 4,625
33.37%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$1.71F CFA 983
104.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$0.84F CFA 485
72.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
$0.58F CFA 333
51.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
$1.03F CFA 593
186.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
$1.81F CFA 1,037
149.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ouagadougou
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$2.73F CFA 1,570
-47.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$0.90F CFA 517
104.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
$1.02F CFA 585
53.92%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$3.07F CFA 1,765
-18.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$17.47F CFA 10.0K
-52.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$21.08F CFA 12.1K
-60.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$12.37F CFA 7,101
-13.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
$4.29F CFA 2,465
-39.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
$1.42F CFA 815
1.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
$1.01F CFA 582
94.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
$2.48F CFA 1,425
-15.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
$2.16F CFA 1,242
-14.35%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
$1.36F CFA 780
59.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
$0.84F CFA 484
22.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$1.35F CFA 776
-20.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$1.71F CFA 984
139.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
$6.19F CFA 3,551
64.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
$1.30F CFA 745
29.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
$2.33F CFA 1,336
8.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ouagadougou
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
$0.20F CFA 117
155.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$0.51F CFA 294
533.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
$1.61F CFA 923
49.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$1.46F CFA 839
-9.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
$37.3KF CFA 21.4M
-20.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$37.8KF CFA 21.7M
-37.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ouagadougou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$127F CFA 72.9K
-35.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
$35.50F CFA 20.4K
-35.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$50.7F CFA 29.1K
-40.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ouagadougou
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
$61.2F CFA 35.2K
-15.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
$8.60F CFA 4,936
115.47%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$8.94F CFA 5,134
-44.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ouagadougou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
$135F CFA 77.2K
46.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
$17.7KF CFA 10.2M
-69.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ouagadougou
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ouagadougou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
$449F CFA 257.9K
110.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
$277F CFA 158.9K
71.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
$1,279F CFA 734.6K
28.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
$765F CFA 439.1K
58.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
$877F CFA 503.8K
362.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.7K
$260F CFA 149.5K
2384.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ouagadougou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
$607F CFA 348.7K
7.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
0
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CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Last update for Ouagadougou: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $449 in Ouagadougou. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 8% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $24.00 in Ouagadougou. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Playa del Carmen vs $346 in Ouagadougou – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Ouagadougou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and in Ouagadougou compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, $1,031 in Ouagadougou – roughly 22% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Ouagadougou?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,546 in Ouagadougou. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Playa del Carmen and Ouagadougou?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ouagadougou, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Ouagadougou?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $1,031 in Ouagadougou. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Ouagadougou?
Kindergarten costs $197 per month in Playa del Carmen and $135 in Ouagadougou. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ouagadougou, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Ouagadougou it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Ouagadougou?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,031 in Ouagadougou to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Ouagadougou?
If budget matters most, go with Ouagadougou. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared