Cost of Living Comparison Between Acapulco and Portimao Cost of Living Comparison Between Acapulco and Portimao

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $924 per month in Acapulco vs $1,600 in Portimao, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,533 per month in Acapulco vs $2,455 in Portimao, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,142 per month in Acapulco vs $3,311 in Portimao, rent included.

Acapulco is about 42% cheaper than Portimao, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Acapulco sits 33% below the global median, while Portimao is 16% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Acapulco
Portimao
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.20 MX$172
$14.09 €12.12
-27.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.76 MX$706
$70.5 €60.6
-40.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.81 MX$217
$10.97 €9.43
16.77%
Cappuccino
$4.14 MX$70.0
$1.84 €1.58
125.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 MX$28.69
$2.18 €1.88
-22.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 MX$29.37
$1.67 €1.43
4.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.20 MX$54.2
$2.63 €2.26
21.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.39 MX$91.0
$4.39 €3.78
22.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Acapulco
Portimao
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$28.72
$1.11 €0.95
53.15%
White Bread (500g)
$3.19 MX$54.0
$1.77 €1.52
80.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 MX$29.98
$1.74 €1.50
1.72%
Eggs
$1.96 MX$33.15
$3.25 €2.80
-39.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.15 MX$121
$12.30 €10.57
-41.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.78 MX$148
$7.69 €6.61
14.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.86 MX$201
$11.41 €9.81
3.94%
Apples (1kg)
$4.90 MX$82.8
$2.45 €2.10
100.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.09
$1.65 €1.41
7.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.63 MX$61.3
$1.41 €1.21
157.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.49 MX$59.0
$2.40 €2.06
45.42%
Potato (1kg)
$3.66 MX$61.8
$2.12 €1.82
72.64%
Onion (1kg)
$3.13 MX$52.9
$2.37 €2.03
32.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.38 MX$23.40
$1.67 €1.43
-17.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 MX$15.26
$0.77 €0.66
16.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.67 MX$147
$6.09 €5.23
42.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.26 MX$123
$5.67 €4.88
28.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 MX$19.53
$1.13 €0.97
2.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 MX$50.2
$2.59 €2.22
14.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Acapulco
Portimao
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.99 MX$16.75
$1.94 €1.67
-48.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$27.82 €23.92
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.30 MX$89.7
$3.44 €2.95
54.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.09 €0.94
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$17.74 €15.25
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.57 MX$26.55
$2.08 €1.79
-24.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K MX$390.5K
$35.1K €30.2K
-34.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K MX$446.9K
$39.4K €33.9K
-32.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Acapulco
Portimao
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$42.55 MX$719
$112 €96.5
-62.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.05 MX$271
$38.80 €33.36
-58.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.14 MX$391
$50.4 €43.32
-54.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Acapulco
Portimao
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.29 MX$343
$49.86 €42.86
-59.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.98 MX$253
$22.42 €19.27
-33.18%
Cinema Ticket
$4.06 MX$68.7
$7.95 €6.83
-48.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Acapulco
Portimao
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$180 MX$3,037
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$4,580 €3,938
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Acapulco
Portimao
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.2 MX$1,187
$52.8 €45.38
33.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.62 MX$788
$24.16 €20.77
92.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$119 MX$2,010
$47.45 €40.79
150.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6 MX$1,480
$70.7 €60.8
23.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Acapulco
Portimao
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$556 MX$9,395
$991 €852
-43.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$161 MX$2,724
$738 €634
-78.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,050 MX$17.7K
$1,787 €1,537
-41.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$348 MX$5,876
$1,251 €1,075
-72.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,328 €3,721
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,403 €2,926
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Acapulco
Portimao
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$487 MX$8,228
$1,018 €875
-52.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.6
4.58
153.28%

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

Last update for Acapulco: August 30, 2026

Last update for Portimao: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $556 in Acapulco versus $991 in Portimao. 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 109% higher in Portimao, 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 $42.00 in Acapulco versus $70.0 in Portimao. Groceries tell a different story – $292 in Acapulco vs $247 in Portimao – so Portimao wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Acapulco vs Portimao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Acapulco or Portimao?
Portimao costs about 73% more than Acapulco, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Acapulco and in Portimao?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,386 per month in Acapulco and $2,400 in Portimao. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Acapulco or Portimao?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Acapulco, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Acapulco compared to Portimao?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $924 in Acapulco and $1,600 in Portimao. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Acapulco or in Portimao?
Interestingly, groceries are about 18% cheaper in Portimao – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Acapulco or in Portimao?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Acapulco, where all-in costs run around $924, than in Portimao at $1,600. In Acapulco it covers expenses comfortably, while in Portimao it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Acapulco – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Acapulco compared to Portimao?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Acapulco or to Portimao?
If budget matters most, go with Acapulco. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Portimao makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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