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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $135 per month in Zimba vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $211 per month in Zimba vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $286 per month in Zimba vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Zimba is about 89% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Zimba and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Zimba 90% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.60 MX$199

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.11 MX$809

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.10 ZMW 60.7

$11.88 MX$204

-73.91%

Cappuccino

$1.59 ZMW 31.19

$3.98 MX$68.2

-60.05%

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

$0.81 ZMW 15.92

$1.43 MX$24.49

-43.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ZMW 7.51

$0.82 MX$14.16

-53.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.82 ZMW 15.96

$3.19 MX$54.7

-74.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 ZMW 20.16

$6.79 MX$117

-84.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.76

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 ZMW 20.00

$2.20 MX$37.71

-53.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 ZMW 29.98

$1.71 MX$29.32

-10.53%

Eggs

$1.34 ZMW 26.31

$2.74 MX$47.05

-51.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MX$164

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 MX$155

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.59 ZMW 70.3

$12.81 MX$220

-71.98%

Apples (1kg)

$1.81 ZMW 35.36

$2.89 MX$49.58

-37.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ZMW 29.91

$1.50 MX$25.70

2.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.18 ZMW 62.3

$2.15 MX$36.87

47.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.79 ZMW 15.52

$2.26 MX$38.79

-65.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 MX$34.00

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 ZMW 14.71

$1.99 MX$34.15

-62.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 ZMW 16.66

$1.23 MX$21.18

-30.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ZMW 10.43

$1.20 MX$20.54

-55.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 MX$78.1

Wine (Bottle)

$6.11 ZMW 119

$10.37 MX$178

-41.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 ZMW 14.88

$1.62 MX$27.79

-53.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.07 ZMW 20.88

$2.88 MX$49.44

-62.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.30

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$494

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 MX$92.5

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.0

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.37

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

$22.5K MX$387.0K

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

$26.1K MX$447.3K

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

$91.4 MX$1,569

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

$25.20 MX$433

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.24 MX$536

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,154

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$500

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$83.5

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

$224 MX$3,839

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 MX$808

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 MX$760

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,375

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 MX$1,591

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 MX$18.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MX$6,698

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 MX$36.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 MX$21.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$68.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$111.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.0K

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 Zimba: September 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 836%, 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 $203 per month in Zimba and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $135 in Zimba 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 185% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Zimba, where all-in costs run around $135, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Zimba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Zimba – 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 Zimba. 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.