Cost of Living Comparison Between Dar es Salaam and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Dar es Salaam and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $871 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,393 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,914 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Dar es Salaam is about 32% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Dar es Salaam and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Dar es Salaam 35% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.79 TZS 7,271

$11.94 MX$208

-76.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.41 TZS 50.7K

$42.75 MX$744

-54.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.93 TZS 20.7K

$10.59 MX$184

-25.12%

Cappuccino

$1.95 TZS 5,095

$3.62 MX$63.0

-46.13%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 TZS 1,012

$1.47 MX$25.54

-73.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 TZS 572

$0.94 MX$16.41

-76.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 TZS 2,802

$3.09 MX$53.8

-65.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 TZS 5,080

$4.46 MX$77.6

-56.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 TZS 2,813

$1.43 MX$24.80

-24.48%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 TZS 2,126

$1.88 MX$32.79

-56.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 TZS 2,936

$1.63 MX$28.34

-31.29%

Eggs

$1.97 TZS 5,155

$2.64 MX$45.99

-25.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.46 TZS 24.7K

$8.21 MX$143

15.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.83 TZS 15.2K

$8.29 MX$144

-29.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.37 TZS 11.4K

$11.10 MX$193

-60.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 TZS 6,821

$2.65 MX$46.14

-1.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,746

$1.50 MX$26.11

-30.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,752

$1.99 MX$34.59

-47.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 TZS 2,724

$2.08 MX$36.13

-50.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 TZS 2,462

$1.79 MX$31.11

-47.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.53 TZS 4,002

$2.18 MX$37.87

-29.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 TZS 2,369

$1.08 MX$18.73

-15.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 TZS 1,147

$1.04 MX$18.04

-57.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.04 TZS 5,333

$3.97 MX$69.1

-48.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.44 TZS 16.8K

$10.20 MX$178

-36.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 TZS 2,523

$1.73 MX$30.04

-43.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 TZS 4,240

$2.50 MX$43.46

-35.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 TZS 679

$0.52 MX$9.02

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.10 TZS 44.6K

$26.97 MX$469

-36.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 TZS 3,884

$3.14 MX$54.7

-52.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 TZS 3,930

$2.40 MX$41.80

-37.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.43 TZS 35.1K

$3.09 MX$53.7

334.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 TZS 3,271

$1.27 MX$22.16

-1.57%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$16.8K TZS 43.8M

$30.9K MX$537.3K

-45.62%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$17.2K TZS 44.9M

$23.3K MX$405.7K

-26.19%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$98.3 TZS 256.6K

$82.0 MX$1,427

19.88%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.90 TZS 28.5K

$22.45 MX$391

-51.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.96 TZS 83.4K

$29.66 MX$516

7.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.7 TZS 249.8K

$51.9 MX$903

84.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.79 TZS 12.5K

$18.67 MX$325

-74.34%

Cinema Ticket

$4.75 TZS 12.4K

$4.97 MX$86.5

-4.43%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$253 TZS 660.5K

$198 MX$3,442

27.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.3K TZS 50.3M

$5,273 MX$91.7K

265.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.75 TZS 67.2K

$36.34 MX$632

-29.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.74 TZS 109.0K

$40.05 MX$697

4.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.25 TZS 120.7K

$79.9 MX$1,390

-42.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.7 TZS 223.7K

$88.9 MX$1,547

-3.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$592 TZS 1.5M

$963 MX$16.8K

-38.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$256 TZS 668.6K

$465 MX$8,086

-44.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,299 TZS 3.4M

$1,596 MX$27.8K

-18.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$646 TZS 1.7M

$1,209 MX$21.0K

-46.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,522 TZS 4.0M

$3,942 MX$68.6K

-61.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,105 TZS 2.9M

$6,448 MX$112.2K

-82.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$263 TZS 687.7K

$720 MX$12.5K

-63.43%

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 Dar es Salaam: April 25, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $592 in Dar es Salaam versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 173% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Dar es Salaam versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $167 vs $251 – making Dar es Salaam the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Dar es Salaam vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 48%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,307 per month in Dar es Salaam and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dar es Salaam, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $253 per month in Dar es Salaam and $198 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 51% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dar es Salaam, where all-in costs run around $871, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Dar es Salaam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Dar es Salaam – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Dar es Salaam. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.