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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $440 in Morogoro, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $702 in Morogoro, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $964 in Morogoro, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 186% more than Morogoro, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Morogoro are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Morogoro 67% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Morogoro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$210
$2.81 TZS 7,385
326.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78 MX$733
$19.18 TZS 50.3K
117.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.75 MX$189
$7.94 TZS 20.8K
35.39%
Cappuccino
$3.50 MX$61.3
$2.02 TZS 5,301
73.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.41
$0.35 TZS 925
314.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 MX$15.52
$0.22 TZS 575
300.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.7
$1.03 TZS 2,707
186.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51 MX$79.1
$1.90 TZS 4,988
137.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Morogoro
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$25.12
$0.78 TZS 2,052
83.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 MX$32.23
$0.38 TZS 990
384.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$27.51
$0.94 TZS 2,463
67.02%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$44.06
$1.87 TZS 4,912
34.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.28 MX$145
$9.49 TZS 24.9K
-12.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 MX$148
$4.59 TZS 12.0K
83.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.68 MX$187
$3.83 TZS 10.1K
178.85%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 MX$45.76
$1.18 TZS 3,092
121.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$25.22
$0.56 TZS 1,459
157.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 MX$34.41
$0.56 TZS 1,464
250.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$36.74
$0.37 TZS 973
464.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$32.47
$0.79 TZS 2,072
134.18%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$38.02
$0.59 TZS 1,550
267.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 MX$18.09
$0.89 TZS 2,348
15.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.84
$0.26 TZS 675
311.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10 MX$72.0
$1.57 TZS 4,123
161.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.17 MX$178
$5.07 TZS 13.3K
100.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$29.38
$0.80 TZS 2,091
110.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 MX$44.31
$1.63 TZS 4,276
55.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Morogoro
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.93
$0.30 TZS 782
70.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.04 MX$457
$8.27 TZS 21.7K
214.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.7
$1.42 TZS 3,735
127.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.41 MX$42.19
$0.58 TZS 1,522
315.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.6
$13.71 TZS 36.0K
-76.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$23.17
$0.74 TZS 1,929
78.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K MX$520.9K
$16.9K TZS 44.5M
75.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K MX$415.0K
$17.1K TZS 44.9M
38.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Morogoro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,439
$97.3 TZS 255.4K
-15.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95 MX$403
$10.69 TZS 28.0K
114.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11 MX$528
$32.52 TZS 85.3K
-7.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Morogoro
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$912
$11.54 TZS 30.3K
350.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53 MX$325
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.98 MX$87.3
$4.77 TZS 12.5K
4.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Morogoro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,463
$258 TZS 677.0K
-23.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,336 MX$93.6K
$7,840 TZS 20.6M
-31.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Morogoro
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60 MX$624
$7.51 TZS 19.7K
374.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33 MX$707
$42.25 TZS 110.9K
-4.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 MX$1,381
$47.10 TZS 123.6K
67.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,560
$19.19 TZS 50.3K
363.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Morogoro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$947 MX$16.6K
$76.6 TZS 201.0K
1135.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,314
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,644 MX$28.8K
$195 TZS 511.1K
743.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,211 MX$21.2K
$95.4 TZS 250.2K
1169.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,056 MX$71.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,470 MX$113.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Morogoro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 MX$11.5K
$299 TZS 784.1K
118.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
19.67
-41.94%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Last update for Morogoro: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $76.6 in Morogoro. 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 119% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $19.00 in Morogoro. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $127 – 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
Playa del Carmen vs Morogoro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Morogoro?
Playa del Carmen costs about 186% 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 Playa del Carmen and in Morogoro?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $660 in Morogoro. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Morogoro?
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 Playa del Carmen and in Morogoro?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $19.00 in Morogoro. 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 Playa del Carmen compared to Morogoro?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $440 in Morogoro. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Morogoro?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Morogoro, where all-in costs run around $440, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. 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, Playa del Carmen or Morogoro?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Morogoro costs $440 versus $1,256 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 Playa del Carmen or to Morogoro?
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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