🙂A single person spends $615 per month in Shurugwi vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $990 per month in Shurugwi vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,364 per month in Shurugwi vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Shurugwi is about 52% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Shurugwi and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Shurugwi54% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.81ZWL 248
$11.94MX$208
-17.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.49ZWL 1,024
$42.75MX$744
-5.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.14ZWL 180
$10.59MX$184
-32.58%
Cappuccino
$1.73ZWL 43.73
$3.62MX$63.0
-52.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72ZWL 18.17
$1.47MX$25.54
-51.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44ZWL 11.12
$0.94MX$16.41
-53.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.47ZWL 37.06
$3.09MX$53.8
-52.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05ZWL 51.9
$4.46MX$77.6
-54.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.56ZWL 39.44
$1.43MX$24.80
9.09%
White Bread(500g)
$0.97ZWL 24.54
$1.88MX$32.79
-48.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89ZWL 47.82
$1.63MX$28.34
15.95%
Eggs
$2.11ZWL 53.3
$2.64MX$45.99
-20.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.79ZWL 273
$8.21MX$143
31.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.54ZWL 165
$8.29MX$144
-21.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.32ZWL 160
$11.10MX$193
-43.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.90ZWL 73.5
$2.65MX$46.14
9.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.67ZWL 42.26
$1.50MX$26.11
11.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21ZWL 55.8
$1.99MX$34.59
11.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.70ZWL 42.97
$2.08MX$36.13
-18.27%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55ZWL 39.19
$1.79MX$31.11
-13.41%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98ZWL 50.1
$2.18MX$37.87
-9.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02ZWL 25.75
$1.08MX$18.73
-5.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93ZWL 23.64
$1.04MX$18.04
-10.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.07ZWL 27.16
$3.97MX$69.1
-73.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.57ZWL 217
$10.20MX$178
-15.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12ZWL 28.34
$1.73MX$30.04
-35.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72ZWL 43.46
$2.50MX$43.46
-31.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.52MX$9.02
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.97MX$469
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.03ZWL 127
$3.14MX$54.7
60.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05ZWL 51.8
$2.40MX$41.80
-14.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.85ZWL 123
$3.09MX$53.7
56.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.62ZWL 40.95
$1.27MX$22.16
27.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.0KZWL 505.3K
$30.9KMX$537.3K
-35.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KZWL 586.2K
$23.3KMX$405.7K
-0.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$58.9ZWL 1,490
$82.0MX$1,427
-28.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.53ZWL 443
$22.45MX$391
-21.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$91.3ZWL 2,310
$29.66MX$516
207.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$51.9MX$903
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.67MX$325
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.05ZWL 254
$4.97MX$86.5
102.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$273ZWL 6,902
$198MX$3,442
37.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,340ZWL 185.6K
$5,273MX$91.7K
39.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.75ZWL 499
$36.34MX$632
-45.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.09ZWL 533
$40.05MX$697
-47.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$35.20ZWL 890
$79.9MX$1,390
-55.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.81ZWL 1,007
$88.9MX$1,547
-55.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$963MX$16.8K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$465MX$8,086
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,596MX$27.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,209MX$21.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,942MX$68.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,448MX$112.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$720MX$12.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.31
11.42
16.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Shurugwi: April 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Shurugwi versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $217 vs $251 – making Shurugwi 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
Shurugwi vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Shurugwi?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 109%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $923 per month in Shurugwi and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Shurugwi vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $615 in Shurugwi and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $273 per month in Shurugwi 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 $1,000 a realistic budget for Shurugwi or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Shurugwi, where all-in costs run around $615, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Shurugwi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Shurugwi or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Shurugwi – 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 Shurugwi. 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.