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

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

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

Playa del Carmen costs about 412% more than Moshi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.87 MX$204

$3.05 TZS 7,948

289.18%

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)

$1.38 MX$23.61

$0.56 TZS 1,454

146.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.85 MX$31.70

$0.75 TZS 1,962

146.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 MX$27.65

$1.32 TZS 3,436

21.97%

Eggs

$2.59 MX$44.51

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 MX$142

$8.72 TZS 22.7K

-5.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.37 MX$144

$3.81 TZS 9,943

119.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.66 MX$183

$3.07 TZS 8,002

247.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 MX$45.12

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 MX$25.53

$0.40 TZS 1,055

272.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 MX$32.94

$1.58 TZS 4,133

21.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$35.81

$0.75 TZS 1,967

178.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$31.88

$0.78 TZS 2,042

138.46%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.81

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 MX$18.23

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.67

$0.40 TZS 1,045

172.50%

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)

$0.54 MX$9.30

$0.40 TZS 1,056

35.00%

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)

$1.27 MX$21.88

$1.25 TZS 3,268

1.60%

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)

$83.0 MX$1,425

$118 TZS 307.8K

-29.65%

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

$22.71 MX$390

$3.92 TZS 10.2K

479.34%

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)

$36.90 MX$633

$19.35 TZS 50.5K

90.70%

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)

$1,225 MX$21.0K

$196 TZS 511.7K

524.42%

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)

$667 MX$11.4K

$95.5 TZS 249.2K

598.42%

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 Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Last update for Moshi: 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

Playa del Carmen vs Moshi: 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 $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $372 in Moshi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,271 in Playa del Carmen and $248 in Moshi. 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.