Cost of Living Comparison Between Yaounde and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Yaounde and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $736 per month in Yaounde vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,190 per month in Yaounde vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,644 per month in Yaounde vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Yaounde is about 41% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Yaounde and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Yaounde 45% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.89 FCFA 2,806

$11.99 MX$209

-59.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.62 FCFA 25.6K

$41.78 MX$728

6.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 FCFA 3,246

$10.75 MX$187

-47.44%

Cappuccino

$2.73 FCFA 1,566

$3.50 MX$60.9

-22.00%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 FCFA 819

$1.45 MX$25.22

-1.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 FCFA 379

$0.88 MX$15.41

-25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 FCFA 664

$2.95 MX$51.3

-60.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 FCFA 1,005

$4.51 MX$78.6

-61.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.86 FCFA 1,641

$1.43 MX$24.94

100.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 FCFA 583

$1.84 MX$31.99

-44.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 FCFA 635

$1.57 MX$27.31

-29.30%

Eggs

$1.79 FCFA 1,028

$2.51 MX$43.74

-28.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.15 FCFA 8,123

$8.28 MX$144

70.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.11 FCFA 3,510

$8.43 MX$147

-27.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.89 FCFA 3,382

$10.68 MX$186

-44.85%

Apples (1kg)

$4.62 FCFA 2,651

$2.61 MX$45.43

77.01%

Banana (1kg)

$2.08 FCFA 1,192

$1.44 MX$25.04

44.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.06 FCFA 1,183

$1.96 MX$34.16

5.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 FCFA 711

$2.09 MX$36.47

-40.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.67 FCFA 958

$1.85 MX$32.24

-9.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 FCFA 832

$2.17 MX$37.74

-33.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 FCFA 328

$1.03 MX$17.96

-44.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 FCFA 578

$1.07 MX$18.70

-5.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.72 FCFA 987

$4.10 MX$71.4

-58.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.63 FCFA 4,954

$10.17 MX$177

-15.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 FCFA 734

$1.68 MX$29.17

-23.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 FCFA 891

$2.53 MX$43.98

-38.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 FCFA 349

$0.51 MX$8.87

19.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.38 FCFA 9,981

$26.04 MX$453

-33.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 FCFA 346

$3.23 MX$56.3

-81.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 FCFA 240

$2.41 MX$41.88

-82.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 FCFA 3,319

$3.23 MX$56.2

78.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 FCFA 772

$1.32 MX$23.00

1.52%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$33.6K FCFA 19.3M

$29.7K MX$517.1K

13.21%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$15.6K FCFA 9.0M

$23.7K MX$412.0K

-34.02%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$78.6 FCFA 45.1K

$82.0 MX$1,428

-4.19%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$21.11 FCFA 12.1K

$22.95 MX$400

-8.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.48 FCFA 27.3K

$30.11 MX$524

57.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.58 FCFA 15.3K

$52.0 MX$905

-48.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.21 FCFA 4,140

$18.53 MX$323

-61.09%

Cinema Ticket

$6.66 FCFA 3,826

$4.98 MX$86.6

33.73%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$335 FCFA 192.4K

$197 MX$3,438

69.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,827 FCFA 1.0M

$5,336 MX$92.9K

-65.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.31 FCFA 9,364

$35.60 MX$620

-54.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.04 FCFA 13.8K

$40.33 MX$702

-40.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.51 FCFA 11.2K

$78.8 MX$1,371

-75.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.0 FCFA 33.3K

$88.9 MX$1,549

-34.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$149 FCFA 85.4K

$947 MX$16.5K

-84.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$121 FCFA 69.4K

$474 MX$8,254

-74.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$498 FCFA 285.7K

$1,644 MX$28.6K

-69.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$252 FCFA 144.5K

$1,211 MX$21.1K

-79.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$866 FCFA 497.3K

$4,056 MX$70.6K

-78.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$614 FCFA 352.5K

$6,470 MX$112.7K

-90.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$184 FCFA 105.9K

$654 MX$11.4K

-71.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

-47.46%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Yaounde: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $149 in Yaounde versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 255% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Yaounde versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Yaounde vs $249 in Playa del Carmen – so Yaounde 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

Yaounde vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 71%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,104 per month in Yaounde and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Yaounde, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $736 in Yaounde and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 50% less in Yaounde. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Yaounde, where all-in costs run around $736, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Yaounde it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Yaounde – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Yaounde. 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.