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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $349 per month in Manzini vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $526 per month in Manzini vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $703 per month in Manzini vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Manzini is about 72% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manzini and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Manzini 74% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.60 MX$200

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.11 MX$812

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.88 MX$205

Cappuccino

$3.98 MX$68.6

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

$1.43 MX$24.60

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 MX$14.22

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$55.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 SZL 20.25

$1.68 MX$28.89

-26.19%

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 SZL 15.23

$2.20 MX$37.88

-57.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 SZL 29.37

$1.71 MX$29.45

4.68%

Eggs

$1.15 SZL 18.75

$2.74 MX$47.26

-58.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.37 SZL 121

$9.58 MX$165

-23.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.14 SZL 51.4

$9.01 MX$155

-65.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$1.80 SZL 29.45

$12.81 MX$221

-85.95%

Apples (1kg)

$1.40 SZL 22.88

$2.89 MX$49.81

-51.56%

Banana (1kg)

$0.63 SZL 10.39

$1.50 MX$25.81

-58.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.84 SZL 13.69

$2.15 MX$37.03

-60.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 SZL 7.72

$2.26 MX$38.96

-79.20%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 SZL 10.33

$1.98 MX$34.15

-68.18%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 SZL 7.72

$1.99 MX$34.30

-76.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.41 SZL 6.78

$1.23 MX$21.28

-66.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 SZL 10.93

$1.20 MX$20.63

-44.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 SZL 51.2

$4.55 MX$78.5

-31.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.38 SZL 55.4

$10.37 MX$179

-67.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 SZL 10.63

$1.62 MX$27.91

-59.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 SZL 13.38

$2.88 MX$49.67

-71.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 SZL 9.96

$0.60 MX$10.35

1.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$497

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 MX$92.9

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.3

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 SZL 21.49

$1.54 MX$26.48

-14.94%

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

$17.4K SZL 284.2K

$22.5K MX$388.8K

-22.99%

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

$15.9K SZL 259.8K

$26.1K MX$449.3K

-39.07%

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

$72.5 SZL 1,187

$91.4 MX$1,576

-20.65%

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

$12.16 SZL 199

$25.20 MX$435

-51.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.84 SZL 505

$31.24 MX$539

-1.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,159

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$502

Cinema Ticket

$3.61 SZL 59.0

$4.86 MX$83.8

-25.72%

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

$224 MX$3,856

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 MX$812

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 MX$764

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,381

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 MX$1,598

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$169 SZL 2,769

$1,063 MX$18.3K

-84.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$108 SZL 1,773

$390 MX$6,728

-72.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$363 SZL 5,934

$2,149 MX$37.1K

-83.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$280 SZL 4,589

$1,272 MX$21.9K

-77.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$407 SZL 6,661

$758 MX$13.1K

-46.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

-12.66%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Manzini: September 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $169 in Manzini versus $1,063 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 86% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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

Manzini vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen costs about 263% more than Manzini, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $523 per month in Manzini and $1,899 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 Manzini, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $349 in Manzini and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 135% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Manzini, where all-in costs run around $349, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Manzini it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Manzini costs $349 versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Manzini. 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.