🙂A single person spends $574 per month in Takoradi vs $1,239 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $967 per month in Takoradi vs $2,168 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,359 per month in Takoradi vs $3,096 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 – Takoradi57% lower, Playa del Carmen8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Takoradi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.94GHS 93.1
$11.17MX$203
-28.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.3GHS 601
$44.61MX$810
14.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.47GHS 123
$11.91MX$216
-12.09%
Cappuccino
$4.55GHS 53.3
$3.81MX$69.3
19.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53GHS 17.94
$1.38MX$24.97
10.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48GHS 5.59
$0.80MX$14.46
-40.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.91GHS 22.40
$3.12MX$56.6
-38.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28GHS 26.67
$4.97MX$90.2
-54.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Takoradi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44GHS 16.89
$1.51MX$27.42
-4.64%
White Bread(500g)
$1.04GHS 12.21
$2.25MX$40.77
-53.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75GHS 20.47
$1.51MX$27.35
15.89%
Eggs
$2.70GHS 31.59
$2.46MX$44.73
9.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.04GHS 141
$7.50MX$136
60.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.65GHS 54.5
$8.07MX$146
-42.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$2.73GHS 31.97
$13.08MX$238
-79.13%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39GHS 28.06
$2.83MX$51.5
-15.55%
Banana(1kg)
$0.82GHS 9.62
$1.47MX$26.78
-44.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.09GHS 12.79
$2.69MX$48.90
-59.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.75GHS 20.49
$2.08MX$37.75
-15.87%
Potato(1kg)
$2.23GHS 26.15
$1.96MX$35.52
13.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.96GHS 22.96
$2.01MX$36.51
-2.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.77GHS 8.97
$1.21MX$21.97
-36.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27GHS 3.20
$1.23MX$22.34
-78.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.55GHS 29.94
$4.46MX$81.0
-42.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.96GHS 81.5
$9.98MX$181
-30.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.31GHS 3.64
$1.63MX$29.62
-80.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44GHS 28.55
$2.80MX$50.8
-12.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Takoradi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.58MX$10.50
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.28MX$514
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.71GHS 20.03
$4.85MX$88.1
-64.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.32GHS 15.44
$3.50MX$63.5
-62.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.36GHS 51.1
$5.65MX$103
-22.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36GHS 15.92
$1.46MX$26.43
-6.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,055GHS 94.4K
$21.4KMX$388.4K
-62.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$9,711GHS 113.8K
$24.0KMX$435.6K
-59.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Takoradi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.2GHS 858
$86.3MX$1,568
-15.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.67GHS 231
$23.96MX$435
-17.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.63GHS 500
$28.93MX$525
47.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Takoradi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$64.6MX$1,174
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.07MX$528
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.99GHS 152
$5.13MX$93.1
153.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Takoradi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$462GHS 5,416
$211MX$3,838
118.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.8KGHS 220.4K
$4,045MX$73.4K
364.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Takoradi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.24GHS 167
$44.23MX$803
-67.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.47GHS 216
$43.35MX$787
-57.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$35.93GHS 421
$76.9MX$1,396
-53.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.5GHS 627
$88.4MX$1,605
-39.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Takoradi
Playa del Carmen
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
Takoradi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$768MX$14.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
26.75
11.45
133.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Takoradi: September 29, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Takoradi versus $45.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $177 in Takoradi vs $263 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 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 $861 per month in Takoradi and $1,859 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 $574 in Takoradi and $1,239 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 $462 per month in Takoradi and $211 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 $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 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.