🙂A single person spends $621 per month in Shurugwi vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $998 per month in Shurugwi vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,376 per month in Shurugwi vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Shurugwi is about 51% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Shurugwi and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Shurugwi53% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.93ZWL 265
$11.72MX$203
-15.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.41ZWL 1,078
$41.89MX$725
-3.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.03ZWL 188
$10.51MX$182
-33.11%
Cappuccino
$1.71ZWL 45.51
$3.59MX$62.0
-52.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66ZWL 17.70
$1.51MX$26.10
-56.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44ZWL 11.62
$0.92MX$15.83
-52.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.46ZWL 38.96
$2.96MX$51.2
-50.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02ZWL 53.9
$4.41MX$76.3
-54.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.60ZWL 42.78
$1.40MX$24.16
14.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.02ZWL 27.26
$1.88MX$32.60
-45.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87ZWL 49.78
$1.56MX$26.97
19.87%
Eggs
$2.06ZWL 55.0
$2.61MX$45.14
-21.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.99ZWL 293
$8.32MX$144
32.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.57ZWL 175
$8.35MX$145
-21.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.22ZWL 166
$10.86MX$188
-42.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86ZWL 76.4
$2.71MX$46.93
5.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63ZWL 43.48
$1.51MX$26.04
7.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27ZWL 60.6
$1.87MX$32.41
21.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.73ZWL 46.16
$2.19MX$37.89
-21.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.50ZWL 39.92
$1.86MX$32.14
-19.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99ZWL 53.2
$2.23MX$38.59
-10.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03ZWL 27.52
$1.07MX$18.48
-3.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01ZWL 26.86
$1.09MX$18.79
-7.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.07ZWL 28.48
$4.19MX$72.4
-74.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.53ZWL 254
$10.43MX$180
-8.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16ZWL 31.05
$1.66MX$28.68
-30.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71ZWL 45.55
$2.61MX$45.19
-34.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.54MX$9.37
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.16MX$453
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.02ZWL 134
$3.08MX$53.3
62.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.98ZWL 52.7
$2.40MX$41.61
-17.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.94ZWL 132
$3.13MX$54.1
57.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55ZWL 41.35
$1.31MX$22.69
18.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.2KZWL 538.1K
$29.8KMX$515.7K
-32.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KZWL 632.9K
$23.3KMX$403.5K
1.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$59.3ZWL 1,581
$81.3MX$1,406
-27.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.48ZWL 466
$22.56MX$390
-22.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$90.9ZWL 2,426
$30.05MX$520
202.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$52.9MX$915
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39MX$318
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.16ZWL 271
$4.92MX$85.1
106.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$278ZWL 7,425
$201MX$3,474
38.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,397ZWL 197.4K
$5,175MX$89.5K
42.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.76ZWL 527
$35.92MX$622
-44.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.45ZWL 572
$40.13MX$694
-46.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$35.15ZWL 938
$79.7MX$1,379
-55.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.00ZWL 1,067
$86.5MX$1,496
-53.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$978MX$16.9K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$470MX$8,140
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,651MX$28.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,203MX$20.8K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,953MX$68.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,607MX$114.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$677MX$11.7K
-
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Shurugwi versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $252 – 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 103%, 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 $932 per month in Shurugwi and $1,890 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 $621 in Shurugwi and $1,260 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 $278 per month in Shurugwi and $201 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 $621, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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.