🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $433 in Bagamoyo versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $720 in Bagamoyo versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,006 in Bagamoyo versus $2,980 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 Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.89TZS 4,937
$11.87MX$204
-84.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.54TZS 30.1K
$42.90MX$736
-73.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.80TZS 20.3K
$10.65MX$183
-26.76%
Cappuccino
$2.04TZS 5,317
$3.45MX$59.2
-40.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37TZS 955
$1.50MX$25.81
-75.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19TZS 484
$0.95MX$16.28
-80.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.05TZS 2,728
$3.03MX$51.9
-65.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87TZS 4,889
$4.61MX$79.1
-59.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.78TZS 2,042
$1.38MX$23.61
-43.48%
White Bread(500g)
$0.76TZS 1,990
$1.85MX$31.70
-58.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.37TZS 978
$1.61MX$27.65
-77.02%
Eggs
$1.99TZS 5,197
$2.59MX$44.51
-23.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.31TZS 24.3K
$8.26MX$142
12.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.69TZS 14.8K
$8.37MX$144
-32.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.36TZS 11.4K
$10.66MX$183
-59.10%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63TZS 6,865
$2.63MX$45.12
-
Banana(1kg)
$0.92TZS 2,406
$1.49MX$25.53
-38.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.02TZS 2,664
$1.92MX$32.94
-46.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.56TZS 1,464
$2.09MX$35.81
-73.21%
Potato(1kg)
$0.32TZS 836
$1.86MX$31.88
-82.80%
Onion(1kg)
$0.30TZS 773
$2.26MX$38.81
-86.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84TZS 2,186
$1.06MX$18.23
-20.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38TZS 985
$1.09MX$18.67
-65.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.01TZS 5,255
$4.15MX$71.2
-51.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.06TZS 18.4K
$10.39MX$178
-32.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90TZS 2,361
$1.72MX$29.59
-47.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68TZS 4,385
$2.61MX$44.85
-35.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.54MX$9.30
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.94MX$462
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48TZS 3,851
$3.13MX$53.7
-52.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.17TZS 3,064
$2.51MX$43.09
-53.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.57TZS 35.4K
$3.15MX$54.1
330.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22TZS 3,176
$1.27MX$21.88
-3.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.9KTZS 44.1M
$30.4KMX$521.3K
-44.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.9KTZS 44.0M
$23.6KMX$404.5K
-28.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$97.9TZS 255.5K
$83.0MX$1,425
17.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.77TZS 12.4K
$22.71MX$390
-79.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.03TZS 60.1K
$29.46MX$506
-21.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$51.0MX$875
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.33MX$315
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.91TZS 12.8K
$4.93MX$84.5
-0.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$252TZS 658.6K
$197MX$3,386
27.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.0KTZS 49.6M
$5,280MX$90.6K
259.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.72TZS 67.1K
$36.90MX$633
-30.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.60TZS 111.1K
$39.89MX$685
6.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$46.53TZS 121.4K
$80.0MX$1,373
-41.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.93TZS 112.0K
$89.5MX$1,536
-52.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$58.8TZS 153.3K
$956MX$16.4K
-93.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$477MX$8,189
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$231TZS 602.0K
$1,646MX$28.3K
-85.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$118TZS 307.9K
$1,225MX$21.0K
-90.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,918MX$67.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,459MX$110.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$667MX$11.4K
-
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $58.8 in Bagamoyo and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $12.00 in Bagamoyo vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $151 vs $250 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 193% 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 $650 in Bagamoyo and $1,906 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: $58.8 in Bagamoyo versus $956 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 $252 in Bagamoyo versus $197 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 $12.00 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 $433 in Bagamoyo versus $1,271 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 $433 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 193% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.