🙂A single person spends $792 per month in Mutare vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,230 per month in Mutare vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,669 per month in Mutare vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Mutare is about 38% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Mutare and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Mutare41% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Mutare
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.19ZWL 258
$11.94MX$209
-14.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.1ZWL 1,267
$42.75MX$748
17.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.63ZWL 117
$10.59MX$185
-56.28%
Cappuccino
$1.22ZWL 30.97
$3.62MX$63.4
-66.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72ZWL 18.09
$1.47MX$25.69
-51.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44ZWL 11.10
$0.94MX$16.51
-53.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.39ZWL 35.14
$3.09MX$54.1
-55.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77ZWL 44.75
$4.46MX$78.0
-60.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mutare
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21ZWL 30.73
$1.43MX$24.94
-15.38%
White Bread(500g)
$1.03ZWL 25.97
$1.88MX$32.97
-45.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.26ZWL 31.98
$1.63MX$28.50
-22.70%
Eggs
$1.88ZWL 47.57
$2.64MX$46.26
-28.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.94ZWL 74.3
$8.21MX$144
-64.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.07ZWL 103
$8.29MX$145
-50.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.92ZWL 124
$11.10MX$194
-55.68%
Apples(1kg)
$2.01ZWL 51.0
$2.65MX$46.40
-24.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70ZWL 42.92
$1.50MX$26.26
13.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05ZWL 51.9
$1.99MX$34.79
3.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.97ZWL 24.55
$2.08MX$36.33
-53.37%
Potato(1kg)
$1.51ZWL 38.31
$1.79MX$31.29
-15.64%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97ZWL 24.54
$2.18MX$38.09
-55.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.52ZWL 13.23
$1.08MX$18.84
-51.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01ZWL 25.61
$1.04MX$18.15
-2.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.12ZWL 28.35
$3.97MX$69.5
-71.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.95ZWL 151
$10.20MX$179
-41.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17ZWL 29.69
$1.73MX$30.22
-32.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72ZWL 43.58
$2.50MX$43.71
-31.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Mutare
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48ZWL 12.12
$0.52MX$9.07
-7.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.10ZWL 686
$26.97MX$472
0.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.06ZWL 77.5
$3.14MX$55.0
-2.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95ZWL 49.35
$2.40MX$42.04
-18.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.89ZWL 124
$3.09MX$54.0
58.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55ZWL 39.30
$1.27MX$22.28
22.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.4KZWL 515.3K
$30.9KMX$540.4K
-34.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0KZWL 582.6K
$23.3KMX$408.0K
-1.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mutare
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$57.2ZWL 1,447
$82.0MX$1,435
-30.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.03ZWL 380
$22.45MX$393
-33.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.1ZWL 1,546
$29.66MX$519
105.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mutare
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.40ZWL 1,022
$51.9MX$908
-22.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.87ZWL 123
$18.67MX$327
-73.92%
Cinema Ticket
$10.12ZWL 256
$4.97MX$87.0
103.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mutare
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$146ZWL 3,686
$198MX$3,462
-26.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,422ZWL 187.8K
$5,273MX$92.3K
40.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mutare
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$9.91ZWL 251
$36.34MX$636
-72.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$9.43ZWL 239
$40.05MX$701
-76.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$25.45ZWL 644
$79.9MX$1,398
-68.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$19.94ZWL 504
$88.9MX$1,555
-77.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mutare
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$346ZWL 8,761
$963MX$16.9K
-64.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$251ZWL 6,358
$465MX$8,133
-45.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$750ZWL 19.0K
$1,596MX$27.9K
-53.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$400ZWL 10.1K
$1,209MX$21.2K
-66.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$253ZWL 6,397
$3,942MX$69.0K
-93.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,448MX$112.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mutare
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$252ZWL 6,365
$720MX$12.6K
-65.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.31
11.42
16.55%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Mutare: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $346 in Mutare versus $963 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 186% 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 $50.0 in Mutare versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $154 in Mutare vs $251 in Playa del Carmen – so Mutare wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Mutare vs Playa del Carmen: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Mutare?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 63%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,187 per month in Mutare and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mutare, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 0% less in Mutare. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $146 per month in Mutare and $198 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mutare or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mutare, where all-in costs run around $792, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Mutare it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mutare or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mutare – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Mutare. 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.