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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $159 per month in Ziguinchor vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $362 per month in Ziguinchor vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $565 per month in Ziguinchor vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Ziguinchor is about 87% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ziguinchor and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Ziguinchor 88% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.82 F CFA 3,899

$11.60 MX$200

-41.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.11 MX$812

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.88 MX$205

Cappuccino

$3.98 MX$68.6

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

$0.93 F CFA 533

$1.43 MX$24.60

-34.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 F CFA 241

$0.82 MX$14.22

-48.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$55.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 F CFA 1,082

$1.68 MX$28.89

12.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.33 F CFA 188

$2.20 MX$37.88

-85.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 F CFA 746

$1.71 MX$29.45

-23.39%

Eggs

$2.74 MX$47.26

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MX$165

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 MX$155

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.81 MX$221

Apples (1kg)

$2.55 F CFA 1,458

$2.89 MX$49.81

-11.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.81

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.03

Tomato (1kg)

$1.80 F CFA 1,031

$2.26 MX$38.96

-20.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.80 F CFA 1,031

$1.98 MX$34.15

-9.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.76 F CFA 1,005

$1.99 MX$34.30

-11.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 MX$21.28

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.63

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 MX$78.5

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 F CFA 572

$1.62 MX$27.91

-38.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.67

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 F CFA 147

$0.60 MX$10.35

-56.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$497

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 F CFA 1,038

$5.39 MX$92.9

-66.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.3

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.81 F CFA 1,036

$1.54 MX$26.48

17.53%

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

$22.5K MX$388.8K

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

$26.1K MX$449.3K

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

$91.4 MX$1,576

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

$13.11 F CFA 7,489

$25.20 MX$435

-47.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.24 MX$539

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.47 F CFA 12.8K

$67.2 MX$1,159

-66.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$502

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$83.8

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

$224 MX$3,856

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,675 F CFA 1.5M

$4,229 MX$72.9K

-36.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 MX$812

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 MX$764

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,381

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 MX$1,598

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$444 F CFA 253.8K

$1,063 MX$18.3K

-58.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MX$6,728

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 MX$37.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 F CFA 114.4K

$1,272 MX$21.9K

-84.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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

Last update for Ziguinchor: September 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $444 in Ziguinchor versus $1,063 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.

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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 696%, 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 $238 per month in Ziguinchor and $1,899 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 Ziguinchor, 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 $159 in Ziguinchor and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 337% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ziguinchor, where all-in costs run around $159, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Ziguinchor it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ziguinchor – 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 Ziguinchor. 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.