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 $319 per month in Manzini vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $472 per month in Manzini vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $625 per month in Manzini vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Manzini is about 75% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manzini and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Manzini 76% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 MX$203

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.89 MX$725

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 MX$182

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.0

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

$1.51 MX$26.10

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 MX$15.83

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 MX$51.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 MX$76.3

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 SZL 19.41

$1.40 MX$24.16

-15.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 SZL 14.01

$1.88 MX$32.60

-54.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 SZL 27.87

$1.56 MX$26.97

8.33%

Eggs

$1.07 SZL 17.60

$2.61 MX$45.14

-59.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.70 SZL 110

$8.32 MX$144

-19.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.75 SZL 45.31

$8.35 MX$145

-67.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$1.72 SZL 28.37

$10.86 MX$188

-84.16%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 SZL 21.35

$2.71 MX$46.93

-52.03%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 SZL 9.62

$1.51 MX$26.04

-61.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.71 SZL 11.67

$1.87 MX$32.41

-62.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 SZL 7.67

$2.19 MX$37.89

-78.54%

Potato (1kg)

$0.57 SZL 9.47

$1.86 MX$32.14

-69.35%

Onion (1kg)

$0.44 SZL 7.23

$2.23 MX$38.59

-80.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.41 SZL 6.71

$1.07 MX$18.48

-61.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 SZL 9.76

$1.09 MX$18.79

-45.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 SZL 46.96

$4.19 MX$72.4

-31.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.18 SZL 52.4

$10.43 MX$180

-69.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 SZL 9.00

$1.66 MX$28.68

-66.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 SZL 12.35

$2.61 MX$45.19

-71.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 SZL 8.91

$0.54 MX$9.37

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 MX$53.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.61

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 SZL 20.49

$1.31 MX$22.69

-5.34%

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

$15.7K SZL 258.8K

$29.8K MX$515.7K

-47.29%

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

$14.3K SZL 235.8K

$23.3K MX$403.5K

-38.63%

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

$65.9 SZL 1,086

$81.3 MX$1,406

-18.92%

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

$11.17 SZL 184

$22.56 MX$390

-50.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.58 SZL 454

$30.05 MX$520

-8.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$915

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$3.42 SZL 56.4

$4.92 MX$85.1

-30.49%

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

$201 MX$3,474

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$89.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.92 MX$622

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.13 MX$694

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 MX$1,379

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,496

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$155 SZL 2,554

$978 MX$16.9K

-84.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.6 SZL 1,624

$470 MX$8,140

-79.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$338 SZL 5,571

$1,651 MX$28.6K

-79.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$253 SZL 4,172

$1,203 MX$20.8K

-78.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$386 SZL 6,355

$677 MX$11.7K

-42.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

-12.43%

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

Last update for Manzini: July 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $155 in Manzini versus $978 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 75% 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 295% 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 $478 per month in Manzini and $1,890 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 $319 in Manzini and $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 134% 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 $319, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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 $319 versus $1,260 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.