Cost of Living Comparison Between Victoria Falls and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Victoria Falls and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $890 per month in Victoria Falls vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,451 per month in Victoria Falls vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,013 per month in Victoria Falls vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Victoria Falls is about 31% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Victoria Falls and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Victoria Falls 34% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.98 ZWL 252

$11.94 MX$208

-16.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.91 ZWL 1,136

$42.75 MX$744

5.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 MX$184

Cappuccino

$6.10 ZWL 154

$3.62 MX$63.0

68.51%

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

$0.99 ZWL 25.00

$1.47 MX$25.54

-32.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ZWL 12.36

$0.94 MX$16.41

-47.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.70 ZWL 42.94

$3.09 MX$53.8

-44.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MX$77.6

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ZWL 49.53

$1.43 MX$24.80

37.06%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 ZWL 24.85

$1.88 MX$32.79

-47.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 ZWL 49.13

$1.63 MX$28.34

19.02%

Eggs

$3.52 ZWL 89.0

$2.64 MX$45.99

33.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.44 ZWL 61.7

$8.21 MX$143

-70.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.08 ZWL 154

$8.29 MX$144

-26.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.11 ZWL 205

$11.10 MX$193

-26.94%

Apples (1kg)

$3.04 ZWL 76.8

$2.65 MX$46.14

14.72%

Banana (1kg)

$3.04 ZWL 76.9

$1.50 MX$26.11

102.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.03 ZWL 76.7

$1.99 MX$34.59

52.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 ZWL 102

$2.08 MX$36.13

94.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 MX$31.11

Onion (1kg)

$2.06 ZWL 52.0

$2.18 MX$37.87

-5.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.94 ZWL 49.13

$1.08 MX$18.73

79.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ZWL 38.98

$1.04 MX$18.04

48.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.34 ZWL 33.80

$3.97 MX$69.1

-66.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.71 ZWL 498

$10.20 MX$178

93.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.04

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 MX$43.46

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ZWL 22.54

$0.52 MX$9.02

71.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$469

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 MX$54.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ZWL 24.92

$2.40 MX$41.80

-58.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 MX$53.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.85 ZWL 46.86

$1.27 MX$22.16

45.67%

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

$30.9K MX$537.3K

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

$23.3K MX$405.7K

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

$24.92 ZWL 630

$82.0 MX$1,427

-69.61%

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

$25.48 ZWL 645

$22.45 MX$391

13.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.4 ZWL 1,730

$29.66 MX$516

130.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.8 ZWL 1,538

$51.9 MX$903

17.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.80 ZWL 374

$18.67 MX$325

-20.73%

Cinema Ticket

$19.78 ZWL 500

$4.97 MX$86.5

297.99%

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

$98.6 ZWL 2,493

$198 MX$3,442

-50.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 ZWL 149.7K

$5,273 MX$91.7K

12.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.09 ZWL 382

$36.34 MX$632

-58.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.33 ZWL 641

$40.05 MX$697

-36.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.6 ZWL 1,508

$79.9 MX$1,390

-25.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.40 ZWL 1,123

$88.9 MX$1,547

-50.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$245 ZWL 6,206

$963 MX$16.8K

-74.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 ZWL 4,605

$465 MX$8,086

-60.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$509 ZWL 12.9K

$1,596 MX$27.8K

-68.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 ZWL 8,698

$1,209 MX$21.0K

-71.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,942 MX$68.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,448 MX$112.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$791 ZWL 20.0K

$720 MX$12.5K

9.80%

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 Victoria Falls: April 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $245 in Victoria Falls versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 10% higher in Victoria Falls, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Victoria Falls versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Victoria Falls vs $251 in Playa del Carmen – so Victoria Falls wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Victoria Falls vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 45%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,334 per month in Victoria Falls and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Victoria Falls, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $890 in Victoria Falls and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $98.6 per month in Victoria Falls and $198 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Victoria Falls, where all-in costs run around $890, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Victoria Falls it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Victoria Falls – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Victoria Falls. 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.