🙂A single person spends $616 per month in Shurugwi vs $1,294 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $991 per month in Shurugwi vs $2,189 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,365 per month in Shurugwi vs $3,084 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 Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.83ZWL 262
$11.73MX$202
-16.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.27ZWL 1,075
$41.78MX$719
-3.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.90ZWL 184
$10.41MX$179
-33.72%
Cappuccino
$1.73ZWL 46.28
$3.61MX$62.1
-52.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71ZWL 18.90
$1.46MX$25.06
-51.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46ZWL 12.32
$0.97MX$16.70
-52.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.54ZWL 41.07
$2.92MX$50.3
-47.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96ZWL 52.4
$4.62MX$79.5
-57.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64ZWL 43.66
$1.43MX$24.59
14.69%
White Bread(500g)
$0.98ZWL 26.25
$1.90MX$32.70
-48.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90ZWL 50.7
$1.57MX$26.95
21.02%
Eggs
$2.15ZWL 57.4
$2.64MX$45.34
-18.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.75ZWL 287
$8.44MX$145
27.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.55ZWL 175
$8.58MX$148
-23.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.51ZWL 174
$11.00MX$189
-40.82%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03ZWL 81.0
$2.70MX$46.51
12.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71ZWL 45.55
$1.51MX$25.92
13.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21ZWL 58.9
$1.91MX$32.93
15.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.72ZWL 45.81
$2.17MX$37.37
-20.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55ZWL 41.35
$1.87MX$32.25
-17.11%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00ZWL 53.3
$2.23MX$38.43
-10.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97ZWL 25.76
$1.08MX$18.60
-10.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01ZWL 26.87
$1.07MX$18.47
-5.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.12ZWL 29.90
$4.16MX$71.6
-73.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.25ZWL 247
$10.29MX$177
-10.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16ZWL 31.05
$1.68MX$28.95
-30.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80ZWL 47.94
$2.53MX$43.59
-28.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.55MX$9.53
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.29MX$452
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.08ZWL 136
$3.20MX$55.0
58.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.94ZWL 51.8
$2.46MX$42.37
-21.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.08ZWL 135
$3.20MX$55.0
58.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.53ZWL 40.95
$1.32MX$22.72
15.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8KZWL 529.2K
$30.2KMX$518.8K
-34.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KZWL 624.0K
$23.4KMX$402.5K
-0.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$58.8ZWL 1,570
$81.4MX$1,400
-27.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.54ZWL 468
$22.41MX$386
-21.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$93.6ZWL 2,499
$29.97MX$516
212.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$51.6MX$887
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39MX$316
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.88ZWL 264
$5.16MX$88.9
91.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$275ZWL 7,338
$202MX$3,471
36.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,201ZWL 192.2K
$5,311MX$91.4K
35.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.30ZWL 515
$35.61MX$613
-45.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.20ZWL 566
$40.37MX$695
-47.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$34.99ZWL 934
$78.6MX$1,353
-55.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.24ZWL 1,074
$86.9MX$1,495
-53.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$950MX$16.3K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$478MX$8,227
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,621MX$27.9K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,223MX$21.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,009MX$69.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,473MX$111.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shurugwi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$673MX$11.6K
-
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: June 16, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 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: $222 vs $254 – 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 110%, 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 $924 per month in Shurugwi and $1,941 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 $616 in Shurugwi and $1,294 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 $275 per month in Shurugwi and $202 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 $616, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,294. 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.