🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $435 in Bagamoyo versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $708 in Bagamoyo versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $980 in Bagamoyo versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Bagamoyo costs roughly 65% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bagamoyo67% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94TZS 5,046
$11.72MX$204
-83.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.42TZS 29.7K
$41.89MX$731
-72.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.87TZS 20.5K
$10.51MX$183
-25.12%
Cappuccino
$1.96TZS 5,099
$3.59MX$62.5
-45.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33TZS 870
$1.51MX$26.31
-78.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18TZS 472
$0.92MX$15.96
-80.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.04TZS 2,714
$2.96MX$51.6
-64.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97TZS 5,117
$4.41MX$76.9
-55.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.75TZS 1,942
$1.40MX$24.35
-46.43%
White Bread(500g)
$0.78TZS 2,035
$1.88MX$32.87
-58.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.38TZS 984
$1.56MX$27.19
-75.64%
Eggs
$2.08TZS 5,404
$2.61MX$45.50
-20.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.47TZS 24.6K
$8.32MX$145
13.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88TZS 15.3K
$8.35MX$146
-29.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.18TZS 10.9K
$10.86MX$189
-61.51%
Apples(1kg)
$2.59TZS 6,722
$2.71MX$47.31
-4.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.01TZS 2,618
$1.51MX$26.25
-33.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.01TZS 2,637
$1.87MX$32.67
-45.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.60TZS 1,548
$2.19MX$38.19
-72.60%
Potato(1kg)
$0.30TZS 777
$1.86MX$32.40
-83.87%
Onion(1kg)
$0.30TZS 769
$2.23MX$38.90
-86.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89TZS 2,313
$1.07MX$18.63
-16.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37TZS 970
$1.09MX$18.94
-66.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.08TZS 5,405
$4.19MX$73.0
-50.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.89TZS 17.9K
$10.43MX$182
-33.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90TZS 2,337
$1.66MX$28.91
-45.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61TZS 4,192
$2.61MX$45.56
-38.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.54MX$9.45
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.16MX$456
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47TZS 3,811
$3.08MX$53.7
-52.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.13TZS 2,939
$2.40MX$41.94
-52.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.63TZS 35.4K
$3.13MX$54.5
335.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26TZS 3,283
$1.31MX$22.87
-3.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.1KTZS 44.5M
$29.8KMX$519.9K
-42.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.9KTZS 43.9M
$23.3KMX$406.8K
-27.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$96.1TZS 249.8K
$81.3MX$1,418
18.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.77TZS 12.4K
$22.56MX$393
-78.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.10TZS 60.0K
$30.05MX$524
-23.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$52.9MX$923
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39MX$321
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.77TZS 12.4K
$4.92MX$85.8
-3.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$252TZS 654.4K
$201MX$3,502
25.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.3KTZS 50.2M
$5,175MX$90.2K
273.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.07TZS 67.8K
$35.92MX$627
-27.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.11TZS 112.0K
$40.13MX$700
7.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$45.49TZS 118.2K
$79.7MX$1,390
-42.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.64TZS 108.2K
$86.5MX$1,508
-51.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$57.7TZS 150.0K
$978MX$17.1K
-94.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$470MX$8,206
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$231TZS 601.0K
$1,651MX$28.8K
-86.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$115TZS 298.5K
$1,203MX$21.0K
-90.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,953MX$69.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,607MX$115.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$677MX$11.8K
-
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $57.7 in Bagamoyo and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $11.00 in Bagamoyo vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $153 vs $252 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 189% 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 $653 in Bagamoyo and $1,890 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: $57.7 in Bagamoyo versus $978 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 $252 in Bagamoyo versus $201 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 $42.00 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 $435 in Bagamoyo versus $1,260 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 189% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.