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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $451 per month in Zanzibar vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $702 per month in Zanzibar vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $954 per month in Zanzibar vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Zanzibar is about 65% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Zanzibar and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Zanzibar 66% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.87 TZS 12.6K

$11.73 MX$203

-58.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.38 TZS 57.7K

$41.62 MX$720

-46.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.83 TZS 15.0K

$10.64 MX$184

-45.21%

Cappuccino

$2.18 TZS 5,635

$3.52 MX$60.9

-38.07%

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

$0.60 TZS 1,539

$1.51 MX$26.12

-60.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 TZS 792

$0.97 MX$16.84

-68.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.94 TZS 5,011

$2.95 MX$51.0

-34.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 TZS 7,141

$4.45 MX$77.0

-37.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 TZS 4,574

$1.38 MX$23.93

28.26%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 TZS 1,897

$1.89 MX$32.72

-60.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 TZS 2,236

$1.64 MX$28.32

-46.95%

Eggs

$2.87 TZS 7,396

$2.51 MX$43.34

14.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.28 TZS 5,872

$8.34 MX$144

-72.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.75 TZS 12.2K

$10.73 MX$186

-55.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 TZS 7,541

$2.60 MX$45.04

12.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 TZS 2,908

$1.46 MX$25.20

-22.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,943

$1.90 MX$32.87

-60.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 TZS 1,530

$2.08 MX$35.91

-71.63%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 TZS 2,386

$1.78 MX$30.71

-47.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 TZS 4,062

$2.19 MX$37.80

-27.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 TZS 1,916

$1.04 MX$17.99

-28.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 TZS 1,184

$1.08 MX$18.62

-57.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 TZS 5,442

$4.08 MX$70.6

-48.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.55 TZS 24.6K

$10.32 MX$178

-7.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 TZS 4,520

$1.71 MX$29.61

2.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 TZS 3,387

$2.58 MX$44.54

-49.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 TZS 1,664

$0.51 MX$8.81

27.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 TZS 7,125

$3.25 MX$56.2

-15.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 TZS 3,101

$1.31 MX$22.61

-8.40%

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

$30.3K MX$523.7K

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

$23.4K MX$405.3K

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

$82.9 MX$1,433

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

$10.46 TZS 27.0K

$22.22 MX$384

-52.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.74 TZS 58.6K

$29.34 MX$507

-22.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.24 TZS 54.8K

$51.6 MX$893

-58.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$9.42 TZS 24.3K

$5.07 MX$87.6

85.80%

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

$201 MX$3,473

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.26 TZS 34.2K

$36.92 MX$639

-64.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.44 TZS 45.0K

$39.79 MX$688

-56.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.26 TZS 39.3K

$78.5 MX$1,357

-80.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.76 TZS 35.5K

$87.1 MX$1,506

-84.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$148 TZS 382.9K

$973 MX$16.8K

-84.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.0 TZS 255.4K

$468 MX$8,090

-78.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 TZS 520.2K

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-87.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 386.0K

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-87.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$38.5K TZS 99.3M

$3,946 MX$68.3K

875.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.4K TZS 29.3M

$6,498 MX$112.4K

74.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$324 TZS 834.5K

$664 MX$11.5K

-51.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

-12.43%

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

Last update for Zanzibar: June 2, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $148 in Zanzibar versus $973 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 105% 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 $22.00 in Zanzibar versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $138 vs $249 – making Zanzibar 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 188%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $676 per month in Zanzibar and $1,945 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 Zanzibar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 81% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Zanzibar and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Zanzibar, where all-in costs run around $451, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Zanzibar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Zanzibar – 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 Zanzibar. 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.