😐A single person spends $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $473 in Takoradi, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $824 in Takoradi, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,175 in Takoradi, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 169% more than Takoradi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Takoradi are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Takoradi65% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$204
$4.24GHS 46.69
179.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$736
$47.79GHS 526
-10.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$183
$7.84GHS 86.2
35.84%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.2
$3.60GHS 39.62
-4.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.81
$0.91GHS 10.06
64.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.28
$0.37GHS 4.07
156.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$51.9
$1.50GHS 16.50
102.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.1
$2.53GHS 27.78
82.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.61
$1.62GHS 17.78
-14.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.70
$1.15GHS 12.65
60.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.65
$1.93GHS 21.26
-16.58%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.51
$2.30GHS 25.33
12.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$142
$11.18GHS 123
-26.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$144
$4.54GHS 49.95
84.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$183
$2.94GHS 32.37
262.59%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.12
$2.65GHS 29.17
-0.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.53
$0.93GHS 10.27
60.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.94
$1.20GHS 13.15
60.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.81
$1.99GHS 21.85
5.03%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$31.88
$2.60GHS 28.61
-28.46%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.81
$2.14GHS 23.58
5.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.23
$0.80GHS 8.76
32.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.67
$0.30GHS 3.33
263.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.2
$1.59GHS 17.47
161.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$178
$7.20GHS 79.2
44.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.59
$0.36GHS 3.91
377.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$44.85
$1.94GHS 21.33
34.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.30
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$462
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$53.7
$1.56GHS 17.19
100.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.09
$1.18GHS 12.93
112.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.1
$5.50GHS 60.5
-42.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$21.88
$1.09GHS 11.94
16.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$521.3K
$8,139GHS 89.5K
273.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$404.5K
$9,560GHS 105.2K
146.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,425
$56.6GHS 623
46.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$390
$13.42GHS 148
69.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$506
$37.13GHS 408
-20.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$875
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$315
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$84.5
$9.78GHS 108
-49.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,386
$71.9GHS 790
174.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$90.6K
$7,926GHS 87.2K
-33.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$633
$14.86GHS 163
148.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$685
$19.18GHS 211
107.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,373
$29.65GHS 326
169.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,536
$41.03GHS 451
118.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.4K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,189
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.3K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$110.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
25.4
-55.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Last update for Takoradi: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $48.00 in Takoradi. Groceries tell a different story – $250 in Playa del Carmen vs $182 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 169%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $709 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 vs Takoradi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,271 in Playa del Carmen and $473 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 $197 per month in Playa del Carmen and $71.9 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 Playa del Carmen or Takoradi?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Takoradi, where all-in costs run around $473, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. 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