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 $1,330 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 Carmen 3% lower, Takoradi 56% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.02 MX$221
$8.37 GHS 92.1
55.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.25 MX$784
$53.9 GHS 592
-14.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.59 MX$213
$10.72 GHS 118
17.44%
Cappuccino
$4.00 MX$67.9
$4.77 GHS 52.5
-16.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 MX$24.08
$1.59 GHS 17.52
-10.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 MX$13.73
$0.49 GHS 5.40
65.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 MX$51.7
$1.85 GHS 20.40
64.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82 MX$116
$2.33 GHS 25.63
192.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 MX$29.04
$1.51 GHS 16.58
13.25%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$37.62
$1.08 GHS 11.88
105.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 MX$29.13
$1.77 GHS 19.49
-2.82%
Eggs
$2.71 MX$45.99
$2.71 GHS 29.83
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.37 MX$159
$12.64 GHS 139
-25.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.86 MX$150
$5.07 GHS 55.7
74.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.78 MX$217
$2.76 GHS 30.34
363.04%
Apples (1kg)
$3.13 MX$53.0
$2.46 GHS 27.07
27.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 MX$26.24
$0.93 GHS 10.22
66.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 MX$36.51
$1.14 GHS 12.56
88.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.35 MX$39.89
$1.84 GHS 20.27
27.72%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$34.23
$2.33 GHS 25.62
-13.30%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$33.67
$2.05 GHS 22.57
-2.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 MX$21.09
$0.78 GHS 8.53
58.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 MX$20.21
$0.28 GHS 3.09
325.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65 MX$78.8
$2.75 GHS 30.27
69.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.47 MX$177
$7.46 GHS 82.1
40.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$26.82
$0.31 GHS 3.39
409.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 MX$49.48
$2.39 GHS 26.27
22.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.56 MX$9.53
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.76 MX$504
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.32 MX$90.2
$1.83 GHS 20.12
190.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.72 MX$63.0
$1.40 GHS 15.35
165.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.78 MX$97.9
$4.41 GHS 48.46
31.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 MX$26.27
$1.34 GHS 14.76
15.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4K MX$379.1K
$7,781 GHS 85.6K
187.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K MX$433.3K
$10.2K GHS 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)
$89.3 MX$1,513
$74.5 GHS 820
19.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.30 MX$395
$19.88 GHS 219
17.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.72 MX$538
$44.11 GHS 485
-28.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.8 MX$1,165
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.40 MX$498
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.06 MX$85.7
$13.39 GHS 147
-62.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$222 MX$3,765
$457 GHS 5,031
-51.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,293 MX$72.7K
$18.4K GHS 202.5K
-76.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.21 MX$783
$14.66 GHS 161
215.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.43 MX$753
$19.29 GHS 212
130.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.5 MX$1,618
$38.09 GHS 419
150.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.5 MX$1,568
$54.4 GHS 598
70.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,069 MX$18.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$393 MX$6,663
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,988 MX$33.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,304 MX$22.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,037 MX$68.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,627 MX$112.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$747 MX$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.

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