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 $1,271 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 Carmen 5% lower, Takoradi 65% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87 MX$204
$4.24 GHS 46.69
179.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90 MX$736
$47.79 GHS 526
-10.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.65 MX$183
$7.84 GHS 86.2
35.84%
Cappuccino
$3.45 MX$59.2
$3.60 GHS 39.62
-4.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 MX$25.81
$0.91 GHS 10.06
64.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 MX$16.28
$0.37 GHS 4.07
156.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$51.9
$1.50 GHS 16.50
102.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 MX$79.1
$2.53 GHS 27.78
82.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.61
$1.62 GHS 17.78
-14.81%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$31.70
$1.15 GHS 12.65
60.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.65
$1.93 GHS 21.26
-16.58%
Eggs
$2.59 MX$44.51
$2.30 GHS 25.33
12.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.26 MX$142
$11.18 GHS 123
-26.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.37 MX$144
$4.54 GHS 49.95
84.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.66 MX$183
$2.94 GHS 32.37
262.59%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 MX$45.12
$2.65 GHS 29.17
-0.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.53
$0.93 GHS 10.27
60.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 MX$32.94
$1.20 GHS 13.15
60.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$35.81
$1.99 GHS 21.85
5.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$31.88
$2.60 GHS 28.61
-28.46%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.81
$2.14 GHS 23.58
5.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 MX$18.23
$0.80 GHS 8.76
32.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.67
$0.30 GHS 3.33
263.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15 MX$71.2
$1.59 GHS 17.47
161.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.39 MX$178
$7.20 GHS 79.2
44.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$29.59
$0.36 GHS 3.91
377.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$44.85
$1.94 GHS 21.33
34.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.30
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.94 MX$462
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$53.7
$1.56 GHS 17.19
100.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.51 MX$43.09
$1.18 GHS 12.93
112.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.15 MX$54.1
$5.50 GHS 60.5
-42.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$21.88
$1.09 GHS 11.94
16.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K MX$521.3K
$8,139 GHS 89.5K
273.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K MX$404.5K
$9,560 GHS 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)
$83.0 MX$1,425
$56.6 GHS 623
46.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71 MX$390
$13.42 GHS 148
69.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46 MX$506
$37.13 GHS 408
-20.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 MX$875
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33 MX$315
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.93 MX$84.5
$9.78 GHS 108
-49.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,386
$71.9 GHS 790
174.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,280 MX$90.6K
$7,926 GHS 87.2K
-33.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90 MX$633
$14.86 GHS 163
148.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89 MX$685
$19.18 GHS 211
107.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.0 MX$1,373
$29.65 GHS 326
169.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5 MX$1,536
$41.03 GHS 451
118.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$956 MX$16.4K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$477 MX$8,189
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,646 MX$28.3K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,225 MX$21.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,918 MX$67.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,459 MX$110.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Takoradi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$667 MX$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

Similar cities