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 $440 per month in Morogoro vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $710 per month in Morogoro vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $979 per month in Morogoro vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Morogoro is about 66% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Morogoro and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Morogoro 67% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Morogoro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.75 TZS 7,082
$11.73 MX$203
-76.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.68 TZS 50.7K
$41.62 MX$720
-52.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.63 TZS 19.7K
$10.64 MX$184
-28.29%
Cappuccino
$2.01 TZS 5,172
$3.52 MX$60.9
-42.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 TZS 998
$1.51 MX$26.12
-74.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22 TZS 564
$0.97 MX$16.84
-77.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.04 TZS 2,687
$2.95 MX$51.0
-64.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 TZS 5,038
$4.45 MX$77.0
-56.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Morogoro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.77 TZS 1,990
$1.38 MX$23.93
-44.20%
White Bread (500g)
$0.38 TZS 976
$1.89 MX$32.72
-79.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 TZS 2,601
$1.64 MX$28.32
-38.41%
Eggs
$1.84 TZS 4,748
$2.51 MX$43.34
-26.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.35 TZS 24.1K
$8.34 MX$144
12.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.56 TZS 11.8K
$8.34 MX$144
-45.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.83 TZS 9,875
$10.73 MX$186
-64.31%
Apples (1kg)
$1.14 TZS 2,936
$2.60 MX$45.04
-56.15%
Banana (1kg)
$0.61 TZS 1,560
$1.46 MX$25.20
-58.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.57 TZS 1,462
$1.90 MX$32.87
-70.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.37 TZS 957
$2.08 MX$35.91
-82.21%
Potato (1kg)
$0.80 TZS 2,072
$1.78 MX$30.71
-55.06%
Onion (1kg)
$0.59 TZS 1,527
$2.19 MX$37.80
-73.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 TZS 2,287
$1.04 MX$17.99
-14.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28 TZS 729
$1.08 MX$18.62
-74.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.53 TZS 3,957
$4.08 MX$70.6
-62.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.08 TZS 13.1K
$10.32 MX$178
-50.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 TZS 1,948
$1.71 MX$29.61
-55.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 TZS 4,178
$2.58 MX$44.54
-37.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Morogoro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 TZS 768
$0.51 MX$8.81
-41.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.18 TZS 21.1K
$26.46 MX$458
-69.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.48 TZS 3,830
$3.26 MX$56.4
-54.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.55 TZS 1,428
$2.49 MX$43.09
-77.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.55 TZS 34.9K
$3.25 MX$56.2
316.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.75 TZS 1,933
$1.31 MX$22.61
-42.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.1K TZS 44.0M
$30.3K MX$523.7K
-43.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.5K TZS 45.0M
$23.4K MX$405.3K
-25.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Morogoro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$95.7 TZS 246.7K
$82.9 MX$1,433
15.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.72 TZS 27.7K
$22.22 MX$384
-51.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.53 TZS 83.9K
$29.34 MX$507
10.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Morogoro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$11.76 TZS 30.3K
$51.6 MX$893
-77.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32 MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.92 TZS 12.7K
$5.07 MX$87.6
-2.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Morogoro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$251 TZS 648.2K
$201 MX$3,473
25.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,653 TZS 19.7M
$5,212 MX$90.1K
46.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Morogoro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$7.74 TZS 20.0K
$36.92 MX$639
-79.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.76 TZS 107.7K
$39.79 MX$688
4.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$45.88 TZS 118.3K
$78.5 MX$1,357
-41.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$19.47 TZS 50.2K
$87.1 MX$1,506
-77.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Morogoro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$78.4 TZS 202.3K
$973 MX$16.8K
-91.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$468 MX$8,090
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$191 TZS 491.6K
$1,641 MX$28.4K
-88.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$97.6 TZS 251.7K
$1,221 MX$21.1K
-92.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,946 MX$68.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,498 MX$112.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Morogoro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$307 TZS 791.4K
$664 MX$11.5K
-53.78%
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 Morogoro: May 30, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $78.4 in Morogoro versus $973 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 116% 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 $20.00 in Morogoro versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $126 vs $249 – 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 195% 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $660 per month in Morogoro and $1,945 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Morogoro and $42.00 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 $440 in Morogoro and $1,297 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 Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Morogoro, where all-in costs run around $440, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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 $440 versus $1,297 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 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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