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 $872 per month in Victoria Falls vs $1,294 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,427 per month in Victoria Falls vs $2,189 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,983 per month in Victoria Falls vs $3,084 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Victoria Falls is about 33% 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 35% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.07 ZWL 269

$11.73 MX$202

-14.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.91 ZWL 1,199

$41.78 MX$719

7.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.41 MX$179

Cappuccino

$6.11 ZWL 163

$3.61 MX$62.1

69.25%

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

$0.97 ZWL 25.91

$1.46 MX$25.06

-33.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ZWL 12.99

$0.97 MX$16.70

-49.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.77 ZWL 47.28

$2.92 MX$50.3

-39.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.62 MX$79.5

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ZWL 55.0

$1.43 MX$24.59

44.06%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 ZWL 26.40

$1.90 MX$32.70

-47.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.05 ZWL 54.7

$1.57 MX$26.95

30.57%

Eggs

$3.56 ZWL 95.1

$2.64 MX$45.34

34.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.49 ZWL 66.4

$8.44 MX$145

-70.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.07 ZWL 162

$8.58 MX$148

-29.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.16 ZWL 218

$11.00 MX$189

-25.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 ZWL 78.8

$2.70 MX$46.51

9.26%

Banana (1kg)

$2.96 ZWL 79.0

$1.51 MX$25.92

96.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.06 ZWL 81.6

$1.91 MX$32.93

60.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.98 ZWL 106

$2.17 MX$37.37

83.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.25

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 ZWL 53.8

$2.23 MX$38.43

-9.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 ZWL 54.5

$1.08 MX$18.60

88.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 ZWL 40.91

$1.07 MX$18.47

42.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.27 ZWL 33.98

$4.16 MX$71.6

-69.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.80 ZWL 528

$10.29 MX$177

92.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$28.95

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$43.59

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 ZWL 22.35

$0.55 MX$9.53

52.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.29 MX$452

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 MX$55.0

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ZWL 26.35

$2.46 MX$42.37

-59.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 MX$55.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.75 ZWL 46.64

$1.32 MX$22.72

32.58%

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

$30.2K MX$518.8K

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

$23.4K MX$402.5K

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

$24.72 ZWL 660

$81.4 MX$1,400

-69.61%

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

$25.02 ZWL 668

$22.41 MX$386

11.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 ZWL 1,785

$29.97 MX$516

123.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.4 ZWL 1,584

$51.6 MX$887

15.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.01 ZWL 401

$18.39 MX$316

-18.38%

Cinema Ticket

$19.84 ZWL 529

$5.16 MX$88.9

284.50%

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

$102 ZWL 2,719

$202 MX$3,471

-49.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,892 ZWL 157.3K

$5,311 MX$91.4K

10.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.81 ZWL 395

$35.61 MX$613

-58.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.25 ZWL 674

$40.37 MX$695

-37.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.7 ZWL 1,619

$78.6 MX$1,353

-22.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.91 ZWL 1,199

$86.9 MX$1,495

-48.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$253 ZWL 6,741

$950 MX$16.3K

-73.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 ZWL 4,796

$478 MX$8,227

-62.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$507 ZWL 13.5K

$1,621 MX$27.9K

-68.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$356 ZWL 9,509

$1,223 MX$21.0K

-70.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,009 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,473 MX$111.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$788 ZWL 21.0K

$673 MX$11.6K

17.10%

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 15, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $253 in Victoria Falls versus $950 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 17% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $250 in Victoria Falls vs $254 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 48%, 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 $1,308 per month in Victoria Falls and $1,941 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 $872 in Victoria Falls and $1,294 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $102 per month in Victoria Falls and $202 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 $872, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,294. 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.