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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $380 per month in Morogoro vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $640 per month in Morogoro vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $900 per month in Morogoro vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Morogoro is about 71% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Morogoro and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Morogoro 72% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Morogoro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.90 TZS 5,001
$11.96 MX$203
-84.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.57 TZS 48.8K
$47.38 MX$805
-60.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.45 TZS 22.2K
$11.75 MX$200
-28.09%
Cappuccino
$1.96 TZS 5,163
$4.12 MX$70.1
-52.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 TZS 989
$1.40 MX$23.78
-72.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22 TZS 579
$0.91 MX$15.50
-75.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.98 TZS 2,587
$3.21 MX$54.5
-69.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 TZS 5,081
$7.07 MX$120
-72.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Morogoro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.72 TZS 1,883
$1.68 MX$28.49
-57.14%
White Bread (500g)
$0.37 TZS 967
$2.15 MX$36.53
-82.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.99 TZS 2,596
$1.77 MX$30.14
-44.07%
Eggs
$1.87 TZS 4,916
$2.82 MX$47.83
-33.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.30 TZS 24.4K
$9.20 MX$156
1.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.64 TZS 12.2K
$9.23 MX$157
-49.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.76 TZS 9,882
$12.64 MX$215
-70.25%
Apples (1kg)
$1.11 TZS 2,926
$2.95 MX$50.1
-62.37%
Banana (1kg)
$0.54 TZS 1,432
$1.58 MX$26.83
-65.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.59 TZS 1,557
$2.22 MX$37.76
-73.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.37 TZS 965
$2.36 MX$40.15
-84.32%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 TZS 2,084
$1.99 MX$33.86
-60.30%
Onion (1kg)
$0.56 TZS 1,468
$1.98 MX$33.63
-71.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.84 TZS 2,202
$1.24 MX$21.07
-32.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25 TZS 652
$1.21 MX$20.58
-79.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.52 TZS 4,003
$4.60 MX$78.2
-66.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.05 TZS 13.3K
$10.52 MX$179
-52.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 TZS 1,933
$1.69 MX$28.74
-56.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 TZS 3,962
$2.77 MX$47.13
-45.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Morogoro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 TZS 822
$0.60 MX$10.24
-48.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.35 TZS 21.9K
$29.70 MX$505
-71.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.61 TZS 4,220
$5.24 MX$89.0
-69.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.59 TZS 1,544
$3.65 MX$62.0
-83.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.41 TZS 35.3K
$5.78 MX$98.3
132.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 TZS 2,078
$1.54 MX$26.13
-48.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.6K TZS 43.7M
$22.8K MX$387.4K
-27.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K TZS 69.1M
$25.8K MX$438.5K
1.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Morogoro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$56.0 TZS 147.2K
$90.7 MX$1,540
-38.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.04 TZS 23.8K
$25.19 MX$428
-64.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.42 TZS 90.5K
$31.75 MX$539
8.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Morogoro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$11.54 TZS 30.3K
$68.8 MX$1,169
-83.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.37 MX$499
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.95 TZS 13.0K
$4.86 MX$82.6
1.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Morogoro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$579 TZS 1.5M
$226 MX$3,834
156.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,591 TZS 20.0M
$4,194 MX$71.2K
81.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Morogoro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$7.60 TZS 20.0K
$47.38 MX$805
-83.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.34 TZS 69.3K
$43.45 MX$738
-39.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$44.66 TZS 117.4K
$80.2 MX$1,363
-44.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$18.60 TZS 48.9K
$91.4 MX$1,552
-79.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Morogoro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$75.0 TZS 197.3K
$1,086 MX$18.4K
-93.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$409 MX$6,943
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$191 TZS 503.4K
$1,972 MX$33.5K
-90.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$94.4 TZS 248.3K
$1,281 MX$21.8K
-92.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,046 MX$68.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,704 MX$113.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Morogoro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$309 TZS 811.2K
$773 MX$13.1K
-60.10%
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 Morogoro: September 8, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $75.0 in Morogoro versus $1,086 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 151% 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 Morogoro versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $124 vs $278 – making Morogoro 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
Morogoro vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Morogoro or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen costs about 244% more than Morogoro, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Morogoro and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $570 per month in Morogoro and $1,958 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Morogoro or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Morogoro, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Morogoro and in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Morogoro and $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Morogoro compared to Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $380 in Morogoro and $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Morogoro or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Morogoro, where all-in costs run around $380, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Morogoro it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Morogoro or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Morogoro costs $380 versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Morogoro or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Morogoro. 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.

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