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 $725 per month in Yaounde vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,195 per month in Yaounde vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,665 per month in Yaounde vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Yaounde is about 44% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Yaounde and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Yaounde 46% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.87 FCFA 2,747

$11.73 MX$203

-58.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.99 FCFA 24.8K

$41.62 MX$719

5.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.80 FCFA 3,272

$10.64 MX$184

-45.49%

Cappuccino

$2.59 FCFA 1,463

$3.52 MX$60.8

-26.42%

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

$1.48 FCFA 834

$1.51 MX$26.09

-1.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 FCFA 391

$0.97 MX$16.82

-28.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.17 FCFA 661

$2.95 MX$51.0

-60.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 FCFA 970

$4.45 MX$77.0

-61.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.83 FCFA 1,600

$1.38 MX$23.90

105.07%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 FCFA 558

$1.89 MX$32.69

-47.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 FCFA 624

$1.64 MX$28.29

-32.32%

Eggs

$1.83 FCFA 1,034

$2.51 MX$43.30

-27.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 FCFA 7,881

$8.34 MX$144

67.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.32 FCFA 3,567

$8.34 MX$144

-24.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.98 FCFA 3,374

$10.73 MX$185

-44.27%

Apples (1kg)

$4.63 FCFA 2,615

$2.60 MX$45.00

78.08%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 FCFA 1,182

$1.46 MX$25.18

43.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.06 FCFA 1,162

$1.90 MX$32.84

8.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 FCFA 672

$2.08 MX$35.88

-42.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.61 FCFA 906

$1.78 MX$30.68

-9.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 FCFA 822

$2.19 MX$37.76

-33.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 FCFA 324

$1.04 MX$17.97

-45.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 FCFA 562

$1.08 MX$18.60

-7.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.73 FCFA 978

$4.08 MX$70.5

-57.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.78 FCFA 4,954

$10.32 MX$178

-14.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 FCFA 695

$1.71 MX$29.59

-28.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 FCFA 906

$2.58 MX$44.50

-37.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 FCFA 337

$0.51 MX$8.81

17.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.76 FCFA 10.0K

$26.46 MX$457

-32.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 FCFA 365

$3.26 MX$56.4

-80.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 FCFA 215

$2.49 MX$43.05

-84.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 FCFA 3,158

$3.25 MX$56.1

72.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 FCFA 761

$1.31 MX$22.59

3.05%

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

$33.1K FCFA 18.7M

$30.3K MX$523.2K

9.42%

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

$16.2K FCFA 9.1M

$23.4K MX$404.9K

-31.03%

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

$79.3 FCFA 44.8K

$82.9 MX$1,432

-4.27%

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

$21.48 FCFA 12.1K

$22.22 MX$384

-3.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.79 FCFA 26.4K

$29.34 MX$507

59.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.01 FCFA 14.7K

$51.6 MX$892

-49.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.26 FCFA 4,095

$18.32 MX$317

-60.37%

Cinema Ticket

$6.54 FCFA 3,692

$5.07 MX$87.5

28.99%

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

$346 FCFA 195.2K

$201 MX$3,470

72.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,832 FCFA 1.0M

$5,212 MX$90.1K

-64.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.69 FCFA 9,419

$36.92 MX$638

-54.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.83 FCFA 13.5K

$39.79 MX$688

-40.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.67 FCFA 11.1K

$78.5 MX$1,356

-74.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.2 FCFA 32.9K

$87.1 MX$1,505

-33.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$153 FCFA 86.2K

$973 MX$16.8K

-84.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$118 FCFA 66.5K

$468 MX$8,082

-74.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$503 FCFA 283.7K

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-69.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$256 FCFA 144.6K

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-79.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$887 FCFA 500.5K

$3,946 MX$68.2K

-77.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$626 FCFA 353.4K

$6,498 MX$112.3K

-90.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$189 FCFA 106.8K

$664 MX$11.5K

-71.51%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $153 in Yaounde versus $973 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 251% 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 $44.00 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 79%, 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 $1,088 per month in Yaounde and $1,945 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 $725 in Yaounde and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 49% 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 $725, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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.