😐A single person spends $1,330 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $605 in Takoradi, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,336 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,007 in Takoradi, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,341 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,410 in Takoradi, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 120% more than Takoradi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Takoradi are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen3% lower, Takoradi56% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.02MX$221
$8.37GHS 92.1
55.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.25MX$784
$53.9GHS 592
-14.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.59MX$213
$10.72GHS 118
17.44%
Cappuccino
$4.00MX$67.9
$4.77GHS 52.5
-16.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42MX$24.08
$1.59GHS 17.52
-10.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81MX$13.73
$0.49GHS 5.40
65.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.05MX$51.7
$1.85GHS 20.40
64.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82MX$116
$2.33GHS 25.63
192.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71MX$29.04
$1.51GHS 16.58
13.25%
White Bread(500g)
$2.22MX$37.62
$1.08GHS 11.88
105.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72MX$29.13
$1.77GHS 19.49
-2.82%
Eggs
$2.71MX$45.99
$2.71GHS 29.83
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.37MX$159
$12.64GHS 139
-25.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.86MX$150
$5.07GHS 55.7
74.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.78MX$217
$2.76GHS 30.34
363.04%
Apples(1kg)
$3.13MX$53.0
$2.46GHS 27.07
27.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55MX$26.24
$0.93GHS 10.22
66.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.51
$1.14GHS 12.56
88.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.35MX$39.89
$1.84GHS 20.27
27.72%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02MX$34.23
$2.33GHS 25.62
-13.30%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.67
$2.05GHS 22.57
-2.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$21.09
$0.78GHS 8.53
58.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19MX$20.21
$0.28GHS 3.09
325.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65MX$78.8
$2.75GHS 30.27
69.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.47MX$177
$7.46GHS 82.1
40.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58MX$26.82
$0.31GHS 3.39
409.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92MX$49.48
$2.39GHS 26.27
22.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MX$9.53
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.76MX$504
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.32MX$90.2
$1.83GHS 20.12
190.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.72MX$63.0
$1.40GHS 15.35
165.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$97.9
$4.41GHS 48.46
31.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.27
$1.34GHS 14.76
15.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4KMX$379.1K
$7,781GHS 85.6K
187.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6KMX$433.3K
$10.2KGHS 112.6K
149.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.3MX$1,513
$74.5GHS 820
19.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.30MX$395
$19.88GHS 219
17.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.72MX$538
$44.11GHS 485
-28.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,165
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.40MX$498
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.06MX$85.7
$13.39GHS 147
-62.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$222MX$3,765
$457GHS 5,031
-51.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,293MX$72.7K
$18.4KGHS 202.5K
-76.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.21MX$783
$14.66GHS 161
215.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.43MX$753
$19.29GHS 212
130.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.5MX$1,618
$38.09GHS 419
150.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.5MX$1,568
$54.4GHS 598
70.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,069MX$18.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$393MX$6,663
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,988MX$33.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,304MX$22.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,037MX$68.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,627MX$112.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$747MX$12.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.6
26.75
-56.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026
Last update for Takoradi: August 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $54.0 in Takoradi. Groceries tell a different story – $277 in Playa del Carmen vs $186 in Takoradi – so Takoradi 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 Takoradi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Takoradi cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 120%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,995 per month in Playa del Carmen and $908 in Takoradi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Takoradi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,330 in Playa del Carmen and $605 in Takoradi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $222 per month in Playa del Carmen and $457 in Takoradi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Takoradi?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Takoradi, where all-in costs run around $605, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,330. In Takoradi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Takoradi more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Takoradi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Takoradi. 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