🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $391 in Bagamoyo versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $655 in Bagamoyo versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $920 in Bagamoyo versus $3,362 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Bagamoyo costs roughly 70% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bagamoyo72% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.93TZS 5,085
$11.96MX$203
-83.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.28TZS 29.7K
$47.38MX$804
-76.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76TZS 23.0K
$11.75MX$199
-25.45%
Cappuccino
$1.96TZS 5,143
$4.12MX$70.0
-52.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32TZS 853
$1.40MX$23.74
-77.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20TZS 520
$0.91MX$15.48
-78.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.97TZS 2,547
$3.21MX$54.4
-69.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93TZS 5,078
$7.07MX$120
-72.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.79TZS 2,081
$1.68MX$28.44
-52.98%
White Bread(500g)
$0.60TZS 1,578
$2.15MX$36.48
-72.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.36TZS 953
$1.77MX$30.10
-79.66%
Eggs
$1.91TZS 5,016
$2.82MX$47.76
-32.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.55TZS 25.1K
$9.20MX$156
3.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.57TZS 12.0K
$9.23MX$157
-50.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.94TZS 10.4K
$12.64MX$214
-68.83%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60TZS 6,823
$2.95MX$50.1
-11.86%
Banana(1kg)
$0.93TZS 2,456
$1.58MX$26.79
-41.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.97TZS 2,539
$2.22MX$37.70
-56.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.60TZS 1,566
$2.36MX$40.09
-74.58%
Potato(1kg)
$0.31TZS 827
$1.99MX$33.81
-84.42%
Onion(1kg)
$0.31TZS 821
$1.98MX$33.58
-84.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88TZS 2,309
$1.24MX$21.04
-29.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35TZS 925
$1.21MX$20.55
-71.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33TZS 6,127
$4.60MX$78.1
-49.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.68TZS 17.6K
$10.52MX$178
-36.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.89TZS 2,342
$1.69MX$28.70
-47.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51TZS 3,962
$2.77MX$47.06
-45.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.60MX$10.22
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.70MX$504
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.62TZS 4,251
$5.24MX$88.8
-69.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48TZS 3,884
$3.65MX$61.9
-59.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.37TZS 35.1K
$5.78MX$98.1
131.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32TZS 3,472
$1.54MX$26.09
-14.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.7KTZS 43.9M
$22.8KMX$386.8K
-26.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4KTZS 69.5M
$25.8KMX$437.9K
2.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$55.6TZS 146.2K
$90.7MX$1,538
-38.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.62TZS 12.1K
$25.19MX$427
-81.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.93TZS 60.3K
$31.75MX$539
-27.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$68.8MX$1,167
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.37MX$498
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.16TZS 13.6K
$4.86MX$82.5
6.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$576TZS 1.5M
$226MX$3,828
155.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.4KTZS 35.3M
$4,194MX$71.1K
219.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.15TZS 37.2K
$47.38MX$804
-70.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.01TZS 68.4K
$43.45MX$737
-40.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$44.03TZS 115.8K
$80.2MX$1,361
-45.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.5TZS 174.7K
$91.4MX$1,550
-27.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$57.2TZS 150.4K
$1,086MX$18.4K
-94.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$409MX$6,933
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$228TZS 600.1K
$1,972MX$33.5K
-88.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$113TZS 295.9K
$1,281MX$21.7K
-91.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,046MX$68.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,704MX$113.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$773MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
18.25
11.45
59.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bagamoyo: September 7, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $57.2 in Bagamoyo and $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $11.00 in Bagamoyo vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $142 vs $278 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 234% 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $586 in Bagamoyo and $1,958 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 compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $57.2 in Bagamoyo versus $1,086 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $576 in Bagamoyo versus $226 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Bagamoyo – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $47.00 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 in Playa del Carmen?
At $391 in Bagamoyo versus $1,305 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 $391 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 234% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.