🙂A single person spends $605 per month in Takoradi vs $1,330 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,007 per month in Takoradi vs $2,336 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,410 per month in Takoradi vs $3,341 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Takoradi is about 54% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Takoradi and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Takoradi56% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Takoradi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.37GHS 92.1
$13.02MX$221
-35.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9GHS 592
$46.25MX$784
16.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.72GHS 118
$12.59MX$213
-14.85%
Cappuccino
$4.77GHS 52.5
$4.00MX$67.9
19.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59GHS 17.52
$1.42MX$24.08
11.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49GHS 5.40
$0.81MX$13.73
-39.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.85GHS 20.40
$3.05MX$51.7
-39.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33GHS 25.63
$6.82MX$116
-65.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Takoradi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.51GHS 16.58
$1.71MX$29.04
-11.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.08GHS 11.88
$2.22MX$37.62
-51.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77GHS 19.49
$1.72MX$29.13
2.91%
Eggs
$2.71GHS 29.83
$2.71MX$45.99
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.64GHS 139
$9.37MX$159
34.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.07GHS 55.7
$8.86MX$150
-42.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$2.76GHS 30.34
$12.78MX$217
-78.40%
Apples(1kg)
$2.46GHS 27.07
$3.13MX$53.0
-21.41%
Banana(1kg)
$0.93GHS 10.22
$1.55MX$26.24
-40.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.14GHS 12.56
$2.15MX$36.51
-46.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.84GHS 20.27
$2.35MX$39.89
-21.70%
Potato(1kg)
$2.33GHS 25.62
$2.02MX$34.23
15.35%
Onion(1kg)
$2.05GHS 22.57
$1.99MX$33.67
3.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.78GHS 8.53
$1.24MX$21.09
-37.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28GHS 3.09
$1.19MX$20.21
-76.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.75GHS 30.27
$4.65MX$78.8
-40.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.46GHS 82.1
$10.47MX$177
-28.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.31GHS 3.39
$1.58MX$26.82
-80.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39GHS 26.27
$2.92MX$49.48
-18.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Takoradi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.56MX$9.53
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.76MX$504
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.83GHS 20.12
$5.32MX$90.2
-65.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.40GHS 15.35
$3.72MX$63.0
-62.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.41GHS 48.46
$5.78MX$97.9
-23.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34GHS 14.76
$1.55MX$26.27
-13.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$7,781GHS 85.6K
$22.4KMX$379.1K
-65.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$10.2KGHS 112.6K
$25.6KMX$433.3K
-59.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Takoradi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.5GHS 820
$89.3MX$1,513
-16.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.88GHS 219
$23.30MX$395
-14.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.11GHS 485
$31.72MX$538
39.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Takoradi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$68.8MX$1,165
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.40MX$498
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.39GHS 147
$5.06MX$85.7
164.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Takoradi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$457GHS 5,031
$222MX$3,765
105.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.4KGHS 202.5K
$4,293MX$72.7K
328.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Takoradi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.66GHS 161
$46.21MX$783
-68.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.29GHS 212
$44.43MX$753
-56.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$38.09GHS 419
$95.5MX$1,618
-60.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.4GHS 598
$92.5MX$1,568
-41.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Takoradi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,069MX$18.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$393MX$6,663
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,988MX$33.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,304MX$22.1K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,037MX$68.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,627MX$112.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Takoradi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$747MX$12.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
26.75
11.6
130.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Takoradi: August 16, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Takoradi versus $46.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $186 in Takoradi vs $277 in Playa del Carmen – 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
Takoradi vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Takoradi?
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 $908 per month in Takoradi and $1,995 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Takoradi and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $605 in Takoradi and $1,330 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $457 per month in Takoradi and $222 in Playa del Carmen. 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 Takoradi or in Playa del Carmen?
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 Takoradi or Playa del Carmen 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.