😐A single person spends $1,239 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $574 in Takoradi, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,168 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $967 in Takoradi, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,096 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,359 in Takoradi, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 116% more than Takoradi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Takoradi are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen8% lower, Takoradi57% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.17MX$203
$7.94GHS 93.1
40.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.61MX$810
$51.3GHS 601
-13.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.91MX$216
$10.47GHS 123
13.75%
Cappuccino
$3.81MX$69.3
$4.55GHS 53.3
-16.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38MX$24.97
$1.53GHS 17.94
-9.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80MX$14.46
$0.48GHS 5.59
66.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$56.6
$1.91GHS 22.40
63.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.97MX$90.2
$2.28GHS 26.67
117.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.51MX$27.42
$1.44GHS 16.89
4.86%
White Bread(500g)
$2.25MX$40.77
$1.04GHS 12.21
116.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51MX$27.35
$1.75GHS 20.47
-13.71%
Eggs
$2.46MX$44.73
$2.70GHS 31.59
-8.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.50MX$136
$12.04GHS 141
-37.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.07MX$146
$4.65GHS 54.5
73.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.08MX$238
$2.73GHS 31.97
379.12%
Apples(1kg)
$2.83MX$51.5
$2.39GHS 28.06
18.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47MX$26.78
$0.82GHS 9.62
79.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.69MX$48.90
$1.09GHS 12.79
146.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$37.75
$1.75GHS 20.49
18.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96MX$35.52
$2.23GHS 26.15
-12.11%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01MX$36.51
$1.96GHS 22.96
2.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.21MX$21.97
$0.77GHS 8.97
57.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.23MX$22.34
$0.27GHS 3.20
355.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.46MX$81.0
$2.55GHS 29.94
74.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.98MX$181
$6.96GHS 81.5
43.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63MX$29.62
$0.31GHS 3.64
425.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80MX$50.8
$2.44GHS 28.55
14.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.58MX$10.50
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.28MX$514
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.85MX$88.1
$1.71GHS 20.03
183.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.50MX$63.5
$1.32GHS 15.44
165.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.65MX$103
$4.36GHS 51.1
29.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.46MX$26.43
$1.36GHS 15.92
7.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4KMX$388.4K
$8,055GHS 94.4K
165.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0KMX$435.6K
$9,711GHS 113.8K
147.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$86.3MX$1,568
$73.2GHS 858
17.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.96MX$435
$19.67GHS 231
21.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.93MX$525
$42.63GHS 500
-32.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.6MX$1,174
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.07MX$528
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.13MX$93.1
$12.99GHS 152
-60.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$211MX$3,838
$462GHS 5,416
-54.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,045MX$73.4K
$18.8KGHS 220.4K
-78.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.23MX$803
$14.24GHS 167
210.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.35MX$787
$18.47GHS 216
134.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.9MX$1,396
$35.93GHS 421
114.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4MX$1,605
$53.5GHS 627
65.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$996MX$18.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379MX$6,874
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,767MX$32.1K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,127MX$20.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,010MX$72.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,392MX$116.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$768MX$14.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
26.75
-57.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 27, 2026
Last update for Takoradi: September 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $51.0 in Takoradi. Groceries tell a different story – $263 in Playa del Carmen vs $177 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 116%, 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 $1,859 per month in Playa del Carmen and $861 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 $1,239 in Playa del Carmen and $574 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 $211 per month in Playa del Carmen and $462 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 $574, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,239. 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