🙂A single person spends $291 per month in Nampula vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $472 per month in Nampula vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $653 per month in Nampula vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Nampula is about 77% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Nampula and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Nampula78% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nampula
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.37MZN 277
$11.87MX$204
-63.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$42.90MX$736
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$10.65MX$183
-
Cappuccino
-
$3.45MX$59.2
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MZN 55.8
$1.50MX$25.81
-41.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61MZN 38.73
$0.95MX$16.28
-35.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.26MZN 79.8
$3.03MX$51.9
-58.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60MZN 101
$4.61MX$79.1
-65.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nampula
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.82MZN 115
$1.38MX$23.61
31.88%
White Bread(500g)
$0.46MZN 28.90
$1.85MX$31.70
-75.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.08MZN 68.3
$1.61MX$27.65
-32.92%
Eggs
$2.73MZN 172
$2.59MX$44.51
5.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.88MZN 625
$8.26MX$142
19.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.37MZN 213
$8.37MX$144
-59.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.89MZN 246
$10.66MX$183
-63.51%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70MZN 170
$2.63MX$45.12
2.66%
Banana(1kg)
$2.41MZN 153
$1.49MX$25.53
61.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04MZN 129
$1.92MX$32.94
6.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58MZN 99.7
$2.09MX$35.81
-24.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.43MZN 90.3
$1.86MX$31.88
-23.12%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78MZN 112
$2.26MX$38.81
-21.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.75MZN 47.75
$1.06MX$18.23
-29.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81MZN 51.2
$1.09MX$18.67
-25.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.15MX$71.2
-
Wine(Bottle)
$6.28MZN 397
$10.39MX$178
-39.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40MZN 152
$1.72MX$29.59
39.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.61MX$44.85
-
🚌 Getting Around
Nampula
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17MZN 10.47
$0.54MX$9.30
-68.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.94MX$462
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.52MZN 96.3
$3.13MX$53.7
-51.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.33MZN 148
$2.51MX$43.09
-7.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.15MX$54.1
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.51MZN 95.4
$1.27MX$21.88
18.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$30.4KMX$521.3K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.6KMX$404.5K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nampula
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$83.0MX$1,425
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$22.71MX$390
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$29.46MX$506
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nampula
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$51.0MX$875
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.33MX$315
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.93MX$84.5
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nampula
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$197MX$3,386
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,280MX$90.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nampula
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$36.90MX$633
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$39.89MX$685
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.1MZN 6,014
$80.0MX$1,373
18.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$89.5MX$1,536
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nampula
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$956MX$16.4K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$477MX$8,189
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$938MZN 59.3K
$1,646MX$28.3K
-43.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,225MX$21.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,918MX$67.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,459MX$110.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nampula
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$667MX$11.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
11.42
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nampula: 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
Nampula vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Nampula?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 337%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $436 per month in Nampula and $1,906 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Nampula vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $291 in Nampula and $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do food prices compare in Nampula and Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 35% 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.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Nampula or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Nampula, where all-in costs run around $291, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Nampula it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Nampula or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nampula – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Nampula. 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.