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 $111 per month in Zimba vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $173 per month in Zimba vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $235 per month in Zimba vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Zimba is about 91% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Zimba and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Zimba 92% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.87 MX$204

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.90 MX$736

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.43 ZMW 42.52

$10.65 MX$183

-77.18%

Cappuccino

$1.22 ZMW 21.39

$3.45 MX$59.2

-64.64%

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

$0.60 ZMW 10.42

$1.50 MX$25.81

-60.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ZMW 4.85

$0.95 MX$16.28

-70.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.63 ZMW 11.05

$3.03 MX$51.9

-79.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ZMW 14.86

$4.61 MX$79.1

-81.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.61

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 ZMW 14.68

$1.85 MX$31.70

-54.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 ZMW 21.99

$1.61 MX$27.65

-21.74%

Eggs

$1.06 ZMW 18.44

$2.59 MX$44.51

-59.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 MX$142

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.37 MX$144

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.88 ZMW 50.4

$10.66 MX$183

-72.98%

Apples (1kg)

$1.49 ZMW 26.02

$2.63 MX$45.12

-43.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ZMW 21.39

$1.49 MX$25.53

-18.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.56 ZMW 44.80

$1.92 MX$32.94

33.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 ZMW 11.26

$2.09 MX$35.81

-69.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$31.88

Onion (1kg)

$0.59 ZMW 10.37

$2.26 MX$38.81

-73.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ZMW 12.75

$1.06 MX$18.23

-31.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 ZMW 7.35

$1.09 MX$18.67

-61.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.15 MX$71.2

Wine (Bottle)

$6.87 ZMW 120

$10.39 MX$178

-33.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ZMW 11.20

$1.72 MX$29.59

-62.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ZMW 15.09

$2.61 MX$44.85

-67.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.30

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.94 MX$462

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$53.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.51 MX$43.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 MX$54.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$21.88

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

$30.4K MX$521.3K

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

$23.6K MX$404.5K

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

$83.0 MX$1,425

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

$22.71 MX$390

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.46 MX$506

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.0 MX$875

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.33 MX$315

Cinema Ticket

$4.93 MX$84.5

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

$197 MX$3,386

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,280 MX$90.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.90 MX$633

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.89 MX$685

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.0 MX$1,373

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.5 MX$1,536

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$956 MX$16.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$477 MX$8,189

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,646 MX$28.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,225 MX$21.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,918 MX$67.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,459 MX$110.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$667 MX$11.4K

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 Zimba: June 8, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 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 1049%, 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 $166 per month in Zimba and $1,906 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 $111 in Zimba and $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 203% 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 $111, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. 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.