Cost of Living Comparison Between Bagamoyo and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Bagamoyo and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

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: Bagamoyo 72% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.93 TZS 5,085
$11.96 MX$203
-83.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.28 TZS 29.7K
$47.38 MX$804
-76.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 TZS 23.0K
$11.75 MX$199
-25.45%
Cappuccino
$1.96 TZS 5,143
$4.12 MX$70.0
-52.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 TZS 853
$1.40 MX$23.74
-77.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20 TZS 520
$0.91 MX$15.48
-78.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.97 TZS 2,547
$3.21 MX$54.4
-69.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 TZS 5,078
$7.07 MX$120
-72.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.79 TZS 2,081
$1.68 MX$28.44
-52.98%
White Bread (500g)
$0.60 TZS 1,578
$2.15 MX$36.48
-72.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.36 TZS 953
$1.77 MX$30.10
-79.66%
Eggs
$1.91 TZS 5,016
$2.82 MX$47.76
-32.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.55 TZS 25.1K
$9.20 MX$156
3.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.57 TZS 12.0K
$9.23 MX$157
-50.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.94 TZS 10.4K
$12.64 MX$214
-68.83%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 TZS 6,823
$2.95 MX$50.1
-11.86%
Banana (1kg)
$0.93 TZS 2,456
$1.58 MX$26.79
-41.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.97 TZS 2,539
$2.22 MX$37.70
-56.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.60 TZS 1,566
$2.36 MX$40.09
-74.58%
Potato (1kg)
$0.31 TZS 827
$1.99 MX$33.81
-84.42%
Onion (1kg)
$0.31 TZS 821
$1.98 MX$33.58
-84.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.88 TZS 2,309
$1.24 MX$21.04
-29.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35 TZS 925
$1.21 MX$20.55
-71.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 TZS 6,127
$4.60 MX$78.1
-49.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.68 TZS 17.6K
$10.52 MX$178
-36.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.89 TZS 2,342
$1.69 MX$28.70
-47.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 TZS 3,962
$2.77 MX$47.06
-45.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.60 MX$10.22
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$29.70 MX$504
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.62 TZS 4,251
$5.24 MX$88.8
-69.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 TZS 3,884
$3.65 MX$61.9
-59.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.37 TZS 35.1K
$5.78 MX$98.1
131.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 TZS 3,472
$1.54 MX$26.09
-14.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.7K TZS 43.9M
$22.8K MX$386.8K
-26.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K TZS 69.5M
$25.8K MX$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)
$55.6 TZS 146.2K
$90.7 MX$1,538
-38.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.62 TZS 12.1K
$25.19 MX$427
-81.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.93 TZS 60.3K
$31.75 MX$539
-27.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$68.8 MX$1,167
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.37 MX$498
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.16 TZS 13.6K
$4.86 MX$82.5
6.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$576 TZS 1.5M
$226 MX$3,828
155.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.4K TZS 35.3M
$4,194 MX$71.1K
219.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.15 TZS 37.2K
$47.38 MX$804
-70.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.01 TZS 68.4K
$43.45 MX$737
-40.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$44.03 TZS 115.8K
$80.2 MX$1,361
-45.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.5 TZS 174.7K
$91.4 MX$1,550
-27.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$57.2 TZS 150.4K
$1,086 MX$18.4K
-94.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$409 MX$6,933
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$228 TZS 600.1K
$1,972 MX$33.5K
-88.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$113 TZS 295.9K
$1,281 MX$21.7K
-91.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,046 MX$68.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,704 MX$113.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bagamoyo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$773 MX$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.

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