🙂A single person spends $580 per month in Shurugwi vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $968 per month in Shurugwi vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,357 per month in Shurugwi vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Shurugwi is about 54% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Shurugwi and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Shurugwi58% lower, Playa del Carmen7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.87ZWL 263
$11.60MX$200
-14.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.18ZWL 1,071
$47.11MX$811
-14.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.09ZWL 162
$11.88MX$205
-48.74%
Cappuccino
$1.73ZWL 46.17
$3.98MX$68.5
-56.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94ZWL 25.12
$1.43MX$24.58
-34.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52ZWL 13.98
$0.82MX$14.20
-36.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.54ZWL 41.04
$3.19MX$54.9
-51.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95ZWL 52.0
$6.79MX$117
-71.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.51ZWL 40.25
$1.68MX$28.86
-10.12%
White Bread(500g)
$1.03ZWL 27.34
$2.20MX$37.84
-53.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62ZWL 43.16
$1.71MX$29.42
-5.26%
Eggs
$1.89ZWL 50.3
$2.74MX$47.21
-31.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.81ZWL 315
$9.58MX$165
23.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.72ZWL 153
$9.01MX$155
-36.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.59ZWL 176
$12.81MX$221
-48.56%
Apples(1kg)
$3.04ZWL 81.0
$2.89MX$49.75
5.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62ZWL 43.07
$1.50MX$25.79
8.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08ZWL 55.4
$2.15MX$37.00
-3.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.47ZWL 39.19
$2.26MX$38.92
-34.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.72ZWL 45.71
$1.98MX$34.11
-13.13%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78ZWL 47.42
$1.99MX$34.27
-10.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22ZWL 32.49
$1.23MX$21.26
-0.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00ZWL 26.56
$1.20MX$20.61
-16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.94ZWL 51.8
$4.55MX$78.4
-57.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.89ZWL 237
$10.37MX$179
-14.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37ZWL 36.49
$1.62MX$27.88
-15.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00ZWL 53.3
$2.88MX$49.61
-30.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.60MX$10.34
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.80MX$496
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.91ZWL 104
$5.39MX$92.8
-27.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.97ZWL 52.4
$3.73MX$64.2
-47.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.06ZWL 135
$5.77MX$99.4
-12.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.77ZWL 47.30
$1.54MX$26.46
14.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.9KZWL 583.0K
$22.5KMX$388.4K
-2.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1KZWL 723.3K
$26.1KMX$448.8K
4.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$53.5ZWL 1,425
$91.4MX$1,574
-41.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.84ZWL 582
$25.20MX$434
-13.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.9ZWL 1,810
$31.24MX$538
117.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$67.2MX$1,158
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11MX$501
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.81ZWL 261
$4.86MX$83.8
101.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$461ZWL 12.3K
$224MX$3,852
106.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,861ZWL 236.2K
$4,229MX$72.8K
109.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.90ZWL 663
$47.10MX$811
-47.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.90ZWL 557
$44.29MX$763
-52.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$39.93ZWL 1,064
$80.1MX$1,380
-50.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.35ZWL 1,129
$92.7MX$1,596
-54.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,063MX$18.3K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$390MX$6,721
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,149MX$37.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,272MX$21.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,001MX$68.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,502MX$112.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$758MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.69
11.45
19.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Shurugwi: September 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Shurugwi versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $218 vs $276 – 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 118%, 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 $870 per month in Shurugwi and $1,899 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $580 in Shurugwi and $1,266 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 $461 per month in Shurugwi and $224 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 living in Shurugwi or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Shurugwi, where all-in costs run around $580, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. 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.