Cost of Living Comparison Between Zamboanga and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Zamboanga and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $751 per month in Zamboanga vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,086 per month in Zamboanga vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,421 per month in Zamboanga vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Zamboanga is about 40% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Zamboanga and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Zamboanga 44% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.50 ₱92.1

$11.99 MX$210

-87.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.04 ₱618

$41.78 MX$733

-75.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.72 ₱167

$10.75 MX$189

-74.70%

Cappuccino

$1.74 ₱107

$3.50 MX$61.3

-50.29%

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

$0.91 ₱55.8

$1.45 MX$25.41

-37.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₱25.61

$0.88 MX$15.52

-52.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.27 ₱78.1

$2.95 MX$51.7

-56.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₱102

$4.51 MX$79.1

-63.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₱120

$1.43 MX$25.12

35.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.58 ₱97.4

$1.84 MX$32.23

-14.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 ₱79.7

$1.57 MX$27.51

-17.83%

Eggs

$1.70 ₱105

$2.51 MX$44.06

-32.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.30 ₱696

$8.28 MX$145

36.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.49 ₱276

$8.43 MX$148

-46.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.53 ₱217

$10.68 MX$187

-66.95%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱215

$2.61 MX$45.76

34.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 ₱83.6

$1.44 MX$25.22

-5.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 ₱255

$1.96 MX$34.41

111.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.09 MX$36.74

24.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ₱85.3

$1.85 MX$32.47

-24.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 ₱170

$2.17 MX$38.02

27.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ₱56.5

$1.03 MX$18.09

-10.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱32.66

$1.07 MX$18.84

-50.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.11 ₱191

$4.10 MX$72.0

-24.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.34 ₱267

$10.17 MX$178

-57.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.41 ₱87.1

$1.68 MX$29.38

-16.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 ₱140

$2.53 MX$44.31

-9.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₱13.51

$0.51 MX$8.93

-56.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$457

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 ₱52.2

$3.23 MX$56.7

-73.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.48

$2.41 MX$42.19

-90.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.19 ₱135

$3.23 MX$56.6

-32.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 ₱74.8

$1.32 MX$23.17

-8.33%

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

$26.3K ₱1.6M

$29.7K MX$520.9K

-11.48%

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

$20.4K ₱1.3M

$23.7K MX$415.0K

-13.86%

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

$165 ₱10.1K

$82.0 MX$1,439

100.95%

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

$47.18 ₱2,904

$22.95 MX$403

105.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.6 ₱3,240

$30.11 MX$528

74.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.51 ₱2,494

$52.0 MX$912

-22.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.45 ₱274

$18.53 MX$325

-75.98%

Cinema Ticket

$7.00 ₱431

$4.98 MX$87.3

40.56%

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

$52.8 ₱3,252

$197 MX$3,463

-73.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,218 ₱75.0K

$5,336 MX$93.6K

-77.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.98 ₱1,538

$35.60 MX$624

-29.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.13 ₱1,609

$40.33 MX$707

-35.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 ₱5,426

$78.8 MX$1,381

11.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.7 ₱3,800

$88.9 MX$1,560

-30.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$140 ₱8,588

$947 MX$16.6K

-85.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$70.4 ₱4,332

$474 MX$8,314

-85.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$378 ₱23.3K

$1,644 MX$28.8K

-76.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,721

$1,211 MX$21.2K

-88.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,755 ₱169.6K

$4,056 MX$71.1K

-32.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$941 ₱58.0K

$6,470 MX$113.5K

-85.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$194 ₱11.9K

$654 MX$11.5K

-70.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

5.08%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Zamboanga: July 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $140 in Zamboanga versus $947 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 238% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $10.00 in Zamboanga versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $209 vs $249 – making Zamboanga 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 67%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,126 per month in Zamboanga and $1,884 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 Zamboanga, 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 $751 in Zamboanga and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $52.8 per month in Zamboanga 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Zamboanga, where all-in costs run around $751, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Zamboanga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Zamboanga – 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 Zamboanga. 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.