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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $240 in Moshi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $416 in Moshi, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $591 in Moshi, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 428% more than Moshi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Moshi are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 7% lower, Moshi 82% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.60 MX$200

$2.97 TZS 7,796

290.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.11 MX$812

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.88 MX$205

Cappuccino

$3.98 MX$68.6

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

$1.43 MX$24.60

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 MX$14.22

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$55.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.89

$0.59 TZS 1,559

184.75%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 MX$37.88

$0.72 TZS 1,901

205.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.45

$1.30 TZS 3,413

31.54%

Eggs

$2.74 MX$47.26

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MX$165

$8.26 TZS 21.7K

15.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 MX$155

$3.76 TZS 9,894

139.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.81 MX$221

$3.11 TZS 8,177

311.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 MX$49.81

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.81

$0.37 TZS 961

305.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.03

$1.48 TZS 3,894

45.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.96

$0.79 TZS 2,072

186.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 MX$34.15

$0.73 TZS 1,920

171.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.30

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 MX$21.28

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.63

$0.36 TZS 952

233.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 MX$78.5

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.91

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.67

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.35

$0.78 TZS 2,044

-23.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$497

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 MX$92.9

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.3

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.48

$1.24 TZS 3,250

24.19%

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

$22.5K MX$388.8K

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

$26.1K MX$449.3K

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

$91.4 MX$1,576

$115 TZS 303.4K

-20.83%

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

$25.20 MX$435

$3.86 TZS 10.1K

552.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.24 MX$539

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,159

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$502

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$83.8

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

$224 MX$3,856

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 MX$812

$18.65 TZS 49.0K

152.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 MX$764

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,381

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 MX$1,598

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 MX$18.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MX$6,728

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 MX$37.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 MX$21.9K

$187 TZS 492.7K

578.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.1K

$95.8 TZS 252.0K

691.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Last update for Moshi: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 691% 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 428%, 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 $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $360 in Moshi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $240 in Moshi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 207% 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 $240, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. 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.