Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Takoradi Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Takoradi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $476 in Takoradi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $828 in Takoradi, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,180 in Takoradi, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 170% more than Takoradi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Takoradi are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Takoradi 64% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94 MX$209
$4.30 GHS 48.16
177.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$748
$47.46 GHS 531
-9.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 MX$185
$7.95 GHS 89.0
33.21%
Cappuccino
$3.62 MX$63.4
$3.62 GHS 40.47
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.69
$0.93 GHS 10.42
58.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 MX$16.51
$0.37 GHS 4.17
154.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$54.1
$1.51 GHS 16.95
104.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 MX$78.0
$2.46 GHS 27.54
81.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$1.62 GHS 18.17
-11.73%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.97
$1.19 GHS 13.27
57.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.50
$1.98 GHS 22.21
-17.68%
Eggs
$2.64 MX$46.26
$2.27 GHS 25.38
16.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 MX$144
$11.08 GHS 124
-25.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$4.72 GHS 52.8
75.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.10 MX$194
$2.96 GHS 33.07
275.00%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 MX$46.40
$2.65 GHS 29.68
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$26.26
$1.00 GHS 11.15
50.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.79
$1.19 GHS 13.37
67.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.33
$2.00 GHS 22.35
4.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.29
$2.49 GHS 27.85
-28.11%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.09
$2.21 GHS 24.77
-1.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.84
$0.75 GHS 8.38
44.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 MX$18.15
$0.28 GHS 3.13
271.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 MX$69.5
$1.58 GHS 17.68
151.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.20 MX$179
$6.32 GHS 70.7
61.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.22
$0.36 GHS 3.98
380.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 MX$43.71
$1.95 GHS 21.81
28.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
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
$1.56 GHS 17.50
101.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$42.04
$1.22 GHS 13.68
96.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 MX$54.0
$5.42 GHS 60.7
-42.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$22.28
$1.13 GHS 12.62
12.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K MX$540.4K
$8,026 GHS 89.8K
284.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$408.0K
$9,606 GHS 107.5K
142.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,435
$54.6 GHS 611
50.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45 MX$393
$13.25 GHS 148
69.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66 MX$519
$38.31 GHS 429
-22.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.9 MX$908
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67 MX$327
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 MX$87.0
$9.66 GHS 108
-48.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,462
$71.8 GHS 803
175.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,273 MX$92.3K
$8,055 GHS 90.1K
-34.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34 MX$636
$14.69 GHS 164
147.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05 MX$701
$18.70 GHS 209
114.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 MX$1,398
$29.08 GHS 325
174.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,555
$42.10 GHS 471
111.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,133
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,596 MX$27.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 MX$21.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,942 MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,448 MX$112.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$720 MX$12.6K
-
-
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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Takoradi: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $47.00 in Takoradi. Groceries tell a different story – $251 in Playa del Carmen vs $181 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 170%, 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 $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $714 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 $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $476 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 $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $71.8 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 $476, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. 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

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