🙂A single person spends $955 per month in Acapulco vs $1,499 in Portimao, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,460 per month in Acapulco vs $2,255 in Portimao, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,965 per month in Acapulco vs $3,012 in Portimao, rent included.
🙂Acapulco is about 36% cheaper than Portimao, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Acapulco sits 29% below the global median, while Portimao is 12% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Acapulco
Portimao
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.78MX$187
$11.59€9.98
-6.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.02MX$555
$53.1€45.69
-39.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.34MX$197
$10.22€8.80
10.96%
Cappuccino
$3.76MX$65.1
$2.28€1.97
64.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82MX$31.55
$1.77€1.53
2.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54MX$26.74
$1.70€1.46
-9.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.57MX$44.59
$2.48€2.14
3.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$82.1
$3.26€2.81
45.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Acapulco
Portimao
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.56MX$26.96
$1.16€1.00
34.48%
White Bread(500g)
$3.19MX$55.2
$1.67€1.44
91.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55MX$26.87
$1.71€1.47
-9.36%
Eggs
$1.74MX$30.21
$3.14€2.71
-44.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.24MX$108
$12.13€10.44
-48.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.12MX$141
$7.35€6.33
10.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.78MX$187
$11.35€9.77
-5.02%
Apples(1kg)
$4.53MX$78.5
$2.40€2.07
88.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68MX$29.12
$1.32€1.14
27.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.19MX$55.3
$1.46€1.25
118.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.12MX$54.0
$2.39€2.06
30.54%
Potato(1kg)
$3.44MX$59.6
$2.13€1.83
61.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.87MX$49.77
$2.24€1.93
28.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.25MX$21.71
$1.62€1.39
-22.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78MX$13.44
$0.76€0.65
2.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.82MX$135
$6.07€5.23
28.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.04MX$122
$5.81€5.00
21.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.02
$1.08€0.93
-3.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62MX$45.45
$2.57€2.22
1.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Acapulco
Portimao
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.73MX$12.69
$1.83€1.58
-60.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$13.80€11.88
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.27MX$74.0
$3.54€3.05
20.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54MX$26.73
$0.79€0.68
94.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.38MX$145
$17.11€14.74
-51.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.77
$1.90€1.63
-33.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0KMX$363.3K
$34.7K€29.9K
-39.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1KMX$383.3K
$40.1K€34.5K
-44.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Acapulco
Portimao
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.89MX$674
$118€101
-66.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.51MX$390
$26.39€22.72
-14.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.88MX$362
$47.59€40.98
-56.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Acapulco
Portimao
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.76MX$325
$48.70€41.94
-61.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.24MX$229
$19.50€16.79
-32.10%
Cinema Ticket
$3.62MX$62.8
$7.93€6.83
-54.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Acapulco
Portimao
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$156MX$2,711
$649€559
-75.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,565MX$61.8K
$4,702€4,049
-24.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Acapulco
Portimao
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.9MX$1,107
$53.4€46.00
19.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.96MX$727
$24.19€20.83
73.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106MX$1,830
$46.93€40.41
124.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.3MX$1,392
$70.2€60.5
14.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Acapulco
Portimao
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$506MX$8,764
$922€794
-45.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$243MX$4,216
$682€587
-64.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$918MX$15.9K
$1,446€1,245
-36.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$249MX$4,310
$1,175€1,012
-78.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,327€3,726
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$3,360€2,893
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Acapulco
Portimao
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$486MX$8,428
$1,045€900
-53.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.5
4.86
136.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Acapulco: May 31, 2026
Last update for Portimao: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $506 in Acapulco versus $922 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 115% 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 $32.00 in Acapulco versus $53.0 in Portimao. Groceries tell a different story – $268 in Acapulco vs $241 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 57% 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 vs Portimao?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,433 per month in Acapulco and $2,248 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 $955 in Acapulco and $1,499 in Portimao. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Acapulco and Portimao?
Kindergarten costs $156 per month in Acapulco and $649 in Portimao. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Acapulco or Portimao?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Acapulco, where all-in costs run around $955, than in Portimao at $1,499. 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 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.