😐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 Carmen4% lower, Takoradi64% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$4.30GHS 48.16
177.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$47.46GHS 531
-9.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$7.95GHS 89.0
33.21%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$3.62GHS 40.47
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$0.93GHS 10.42
58.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.37GHS 4.17
154.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$1.51GHS 16.95
104.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$2.46GHS 27.54
81.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.62GHS 18.17
-11.73%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$1.19GHS 13.27
57.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$1.98GHS 22.21
-17.68%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$2.27GHS 25.38
16.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$11.08GHS 124
-25.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$4.72GHS 52.8
75.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$2.96GHS 33.07
275.00%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$2.65GHS 29.68
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$1.00GHS 11.15
50.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$1.19GHS 13.37
67.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$2.00GHS 22.35
4.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$2.49GHS 27.85
-28.11%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$2.21GHS 24.77
-1.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$0.75GHS 8.38
44.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.28GHS 3.13
271.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$1.58GHS 17.68
151.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$6.32GHS 70.7
61.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$0.36GHS 3.98
380.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$1.95GHS 21.81
28.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$1.56GHS 17.50
101.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$1.22GHS 13.68
96.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$5.42GHS 60.7
-42.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.13GHS 12.62
12.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$8,026GHS 89.8K
284.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$9,606GHS 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)
$82.0MX$1,435
$54.6GHS 611
50.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$13.25GHS 148
69.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$38.31GHS 429
-22.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$9.66GHS 108
-48.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$71.8GHS 803
175.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$8,055GHS 90.1K
-34.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$14.69GHS 164
147.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$18.70GHS 209
114.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$29.08GHS 325
174.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$42.10GHS 471
111.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$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