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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $248 per month in Moshi vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $429 per month in Moshi vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $609 per month in Moshi vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Moshi is about 80% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Moshi and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Moshi 82% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.05 TZS 7,948

$11.87 MX$204

-74.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.90 MX$736

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.65 MX$183

Cappuccino

$3.45 MX$59.2

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

$1.50 MX$25.81

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 MX$16.28

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MX$51.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 MX$79.1

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 TZS 1,454

$1.38 MX$23.61

-59.42%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 TZS 1,962

$1.85 MX$31.70

-59.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 TZS 3,436

$1.61 MX$27.65

-18.01%

Eggs

$2.59 MX$44.51

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.72 TZS 22.7K

$8.26 MX$142

5.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.81 TZS 9,943

$8.37 MX$144

-54.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.07 TZS 8,002

$10.66 MX$183

-71.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 MX$45.12

Banana (1kg)

$0.40 TZS 1,055

$1.49 MX$25.53

-73.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 TZS 4,133

$1.92 MX$32.94

-17.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,967

$2.09 MX$35.81

-64.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 TZS 2,042

$1.86 MX$31.88

-58.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.81

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 MX$18.23

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,045

$1.09 MX$18.67

-63.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.15 MX$71.2

Wine (Bottle)

$10.39 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 MX$29.59

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$44.85

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 TZS 1,056

$0.54 MX$9.30

-25.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.94 MX$462

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$53.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.51 MX$43.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 MX$54.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 TZS 3,268

$1.27 MX$21.88

-1.57%

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

$30.4K MX$521.3K

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

$23.6K MX$404.5K

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

$118 TZS 307.8K

$83.0 MX$1,425

42.14%

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

$3.92 TZS 10.2K

$22.71 MX$390

-82.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.46 MX$506

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.0 MX$875

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.33 MX$315

Cinema Ticket

$4.93 MX$84.5

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

$197 MX$3,386

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,280 MX$90.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.35 TZS 50.5K

$36.90 MX$633

-47.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.89 MX$685

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.0 MX$1,373

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.5 MX$1,536

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$956 MX$16.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$477 MX$8,189

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,646 MX$28.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$196 TZS 511.7K

$1,225 MX$21.0K

-83.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,918 MX$67.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,459 MX$110.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$95.5 TZS 249.2K

$667 MX$11.4K

-85.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for Moshi: June 7, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 598% 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 412%, 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 $372 per month in Moshi and $1,906 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $248 in Moshi and $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 170% 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 Moshi, where all-in costs run around $248, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Moshi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Moshi. 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.