🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $435 in Bagamoyo versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $715 in Bagamoyo versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $994 in Bagamoyo versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Bagamoyo costs roughly 66% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bagamoyo68% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.90TZS 4,955
$11.94MX$208
-84.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.43TZS 29.9K
$42.75MX$744
-73.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.65TZS 20.0K
$10.59MX$184
-27.76%
Cappuccino
$2.01TZS 5,238
$3.62MX$63.0
-44.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37TZS 959
$1.47MX$25.54
-74.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19TZS 487
$0.94MX$16.41
-79.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.05TZS 2,739
$3.09MX$53.8
-66.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98TZS 5,172
$4.46MX$77.6
-55.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.79TZS 2,068
$1.43MX$24.80
-44.76%
White Bread(500g)
$0.78TZS 2,046
$1.88MX$32.79
-58.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.38TZS 989
$1.63MX$28.34
-76.69%
Eggs
$2.04TZS 5,332
$2.64MX$45.99
-22.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.21TZS 24.0K
$8.21MX$143
12.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.92TZS 15.5K
$8.29MX$144
-28.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.18TZS 10.9K
$11.10MX$193
-62.34%
Apples(1kg)
$2.67TZS 6,962
$2.65MX$46.14
0.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.00TZS 2,623
$1.50MX$26.11
-33.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.05TZS 2,742
$1.99MX$34.59
-47.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.57TZS 1,479
$2.08MX$36.13
-72.60%
Potato(1kg)
$0.30TZS 778
$1.79MX$31.11
-83.24%
Onion(1kg)
$0.32TZS 848
$2.18MX$37.87
-85.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83TZS 2,175
$1.08MX$18.73
-23.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37TZS 968
$1.04MX$18.04
-64.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.98TZS 5,171
$3.97MX$69.1
-50.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.37TZS 16.6K
$10.20MX$178
-37.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.89TZS 2,311
$1.73MX$30.04
-48.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63TZS 4,242
$2.50MX$43.46
-34.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.52MX$9.02
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.97MX$469
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48TZS 3,867
$3.14MX$54.7
-52.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.16TZS 3,029
$2.40MX$41.80
-51.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.46TZS 35.1K
$3.09MX$53.7
335.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26TZS 3,278
$1.27MX$22.16
-0.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.3KTZS 45.2M
$30.9KMX$537.3K
-43.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.3KTZS 45.1M
$23.3KMX$405.7K
-25.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$96.8TZS 252.7K
$82.0MX$1,427
18.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.97TZS 13.0K
$22.45MX$391
-77.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.43TZS 61.2K
$29.66MX$516
-21.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$51.9MX$903
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.67MX$325
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.79TZS 12.5K
$4.97MX$86.5
-3.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$251TZS 655.9K
$198MX$3,442
27.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.4KTZS 50.6M
$5,273MX$91.7K
267.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.15TZS 68.3K
$36.34MX$632
-28.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.73TZS 108.9K
$40.05MX$697
4.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$46.42TZS 121.2K
$79.9MX$1,390
-41.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.90TZS 112.0K
$88.9MX$1,547
-51.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$58.6TZS 152.9K
$963MX$16.8K
-93.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$465MX$8,086
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$235TZS 614.5K
$1,596MX$27.8K
-85.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$117TZS 305.1K
$1,209MX$21.0K
-90.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,942MX$68.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,448MX$112.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$720MX$12.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
19.67
11.42
72.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bagamoyo: April 25, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $58.6 in Bagamoyo and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $11.00 in Bagamoyo vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $151 vs $251 per month, with Bagamoyo cheaper across the board.
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
Bagamoyo vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bagamoyo or Playa del Carmen?
Bagamoyo wins on cost – living expenses run 196% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bagamoyo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bagamoyo vs Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $653 in Bagamoyo and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bagamoyo vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $58.6 in Bagamoyo versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Bagamoyo and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $251 in Bagamoyo versus $198 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Bagamoyo vs Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Bagamoyo – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bagamoyo or Playa del Carmen?
At $435 in Bagamoyo versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bagamoyo but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Bagamoyo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bagamoyo or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bagamoyo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $435 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bagamoyo hard to pass up.
How safe is Bagamoyo compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Bagamoyo and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bagamoyo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 196% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.