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 $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $248 in Moshi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $427 in Moshi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $606 in Moshi, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 407% 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 81% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 MX$204

$3.03 TZS 7,868

286.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.89 MX$731

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 MX$183

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.5

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

$1.51 MX$26.31

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 MX$15.96

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 MX$51.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 MX$76.9

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MX$24.35

$0.59 TZS 1,538

137.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.87

$0.75 TZS 1,940

150.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 MX$27.19

$1.37 TZS 3,569

13.87%

Eggs

$2.61 MX$45.50

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 MX$145

$8.37 TZS 21.8K

-0.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.35 MX$146

$3.78 TZS 9,825

120.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 MX$189

$3.15 TZS 8,196

244.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 MX$47.31

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$26.25

$0.40 TZS 1,043

277.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.67

$1.56 TZS 4,060

19.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$38.19

$0.79 TZS 2,057

177.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.40

$0.78 TZS 2,040

138.46%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.90

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.63

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.94

$0.41 TZS 1,061

165.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$73.0

Wine (Bottle)

$10.43 MX$182

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 MX$28.91

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$45.56

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.45

$0.37 TZS 966

45.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$456

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 MX$53.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.94

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.87

$1.23 TZS 3,185

6.50%

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

$29.8K MX$519.9K

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

$23.3K MX$406.8K

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

$81.3 MX$1,418

$117 TZS 303.3K

-30.35%

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

$22.56 MX$393

$3.96 TZS 10.3K

469.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.05 MX$524

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$923

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$321

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MX$85.8

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

$201 MX$3,502

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$90.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.92 MX$627

$19.70 TZS 51.2K

82.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.13 MX$700

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 MX$1,390

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,508

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$978 MX$17.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MX$8,206

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 MX$28.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 MX$21.0K

$192 TZS 499.4K

526.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$115.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MX$11.8K

$95.3 TZS 247.6K

610.15%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Moshi: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 610% 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 407%, 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 $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $373 in Moshi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 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 173% 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 $1,260. 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.