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 $902 per month in Victoria Falls vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,450 per month in Victoria Falls vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,997 per month in Victoria Falls vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Victoria Falls is about 29% 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 33% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.09 ZWL 270

$11.87 MX$204

-15.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.80 ZWL 1,226

$42.90 MX$736

6.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.65 MX$183

Cappuccino

$6.15 ZWL 165

$3.45 MX$59.2

78.26%

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

$0.97 ZWL 26.03

$1.50 MX$25.81

-35.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ZWL 12.75

$0.95 MX$16.28

-49.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 ZWL 47.22

$3.03 MX$51.9

-41.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 MX$79.1

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ZWL 52.5

$1.38 MX$23.61

42.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 ZWL 26.44

$1.85 MX$31.70

-46.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.95 ZWL 52.1

$1.61 MX$27.65

21.12%

Eggs

$3.59 ZWL 96.0

$2.59 MX$44.51

38.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.44 ZWL 65.4

$8.26 MX$142

-70.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.94 ZWL 159

$8.37 MX$144

-29.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.14 ZWL 218

$10.66 MX$183

-23.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 ZWL 78.0

$2.63 MX$45.12

10.65%

Banana (1kg)

$2.93 ZWL 78.6

$1.49 MX$25.53

96.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.97 ZWL 79.6

$1.92 MX$32.94

54.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.90 ZWL 104

$2.09 MX$35.81

86.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$31.88

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 ZWL 52.8

$2.26 MX$38.81

-12.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ZWL 54.2

$1.06 MX$18.23

90.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ZWL 41.33

$1.09 MX$18.67

41.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.33 ZWL 35.71

$4.15 MX$71.2

-67.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.30 ZWL 543

$10.39 MX$178

95.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 MX$29.59

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$44.85

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 ZWL 24.57

$0.54 MX$9.30

70.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.94 MX$462

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$53.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.97 ZWL 26.02

$2.51 MX$43.09

-61.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 MX$54.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.82 ZWL 48.67

$1.27 MX$21.88

43.31%

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

$30.4K MX$521.3K

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

$23.6K MX$404.5K

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

$25.06 ZWL 671

$83.0 MX$1,425

-69.81%

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

$25.46 ZWL 681

$22.71 MX$390

12.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.8 ZWL 1,789

$29.46 MX$506

126.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.6 ZWL 1,622

$51.0 MX$875

18.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.84 ZWL 397

$18.33 MX$315

-19.04%

Cinema Ticket

$20.20 ZWL 541

$4.93 MX$84.5

309.74%

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

$101 ZWL 2,708

$197 MX$3,386

-48.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,939 ZWL 159.0K

$5,280 MX$90.6K

12.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.79 ZWL 396

$36.90 MX$633

-59.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.75 ZWL 662

$39.89 MX$685

-37.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.9 ZWL 1,576

$80.0 MX$1,373

-26.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.10 ZWL 1,181

$89.5 MX$1,536

-50.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$253 ZWL 6,764

$956 MX$16.4K

-73.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 ZWL 4,843

$477 MX$8,189

-62.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$509 ZWL 13.6K

$1,646 MX$28.3K

-69.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 ZWL 9,263

$1,225 MX$21.0K

-71.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,918 MX$67.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,459 MX$110.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$791 ZWL 21.2K

$667 MX$11.4K

18.57%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $253 in Victoria Falls versus $956 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 19% 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 $46.00 in Victoria Falls versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $248 in Victoria Falls vs $250 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 41%, 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 $1,353 per month in Victoria Falls and $1,906 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 $902 in Victoria Falls and $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $101 per month in Victoria Falls and $197 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 $902, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. 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.