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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $529 per month in Nampula vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $708 per month in Nampula vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $887 per month in Nampula vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Nampula is about 58% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Nampula and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Nampula 61% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nampula
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.63 MZN 356
$11.60 MX$200
-51.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$47.11 MX$812
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$11.88 MX$205
-
Cappuccino
-
$3.98 MX$68.6
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 MZN 50.7
$1.43 MX$24.60
-44.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 MZN 25.81
$0.82 MX$14.22
-50.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.57 MZN 99.6
$3.19 MX$55.0
-50.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$6.79 MX$117
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nampula
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 MZN 113
$1.68 MX$28.89
5.95%
White Bread (500g)
$0.49 MZN 31.14
$2.20 MX$37.88
-77.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.10 MZN 69.7
$1.71 MX$29.45
-35.67%
Eggs
$2.82 MZN 178
$2.74 MX$47.26
2.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.01 MZN 633
$9.58 MX$165
4.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 MZN 217
$9.01 MX$155
-62.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.93 MZN 248
$12.81 MX$221
-69.32%
Apples (1kg)
$2.62 MZN 166
$2.89 MX$49.81
-9.34%
Banana (1kg)
$2.32 MZN 147
$1.50 MX$25.81
54.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.95 MZN 123
$2.15 MX$37.03
-9.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 MZN 96.2
$2.26 MX$38.96
-32.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.41 MZN 89.4
$1.98 MX$34.15
-28.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.69 MZN 107
$1.99 MX$34.30
-15.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.79 MZN 49.81
$1.23 MX$21.28
-35.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 MZN 53.5
$1.20 MX$20.63
-29.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.55 MX$78.5
-
Wine (Bottle)
$6.36 MZN 402
$10.37 MX$179
-38.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39 MZN 151
$1.62 MX$27.91
47.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.88 MX$49.67
-
🚌 Getting Around
Nampula
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.17 MZN 10.45
$0.60 MX$10.35
-71.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$28.80 MX$497
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.54 MZN 97.4
$5.39 MX$92.9
-71.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.42 MZN 153
$3.73 MX$64.3
-35.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$5.77 MX$99.5
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 MZN 95.0
$1.54 MX$26.48
-2.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$22.5K MX$388.8K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.1K MX$449.3K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nampula
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 MZN 7,577
$91.4 MX$1,576
31.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.82 MZN 2,139
$25.20 MX$435
34.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$125 MZN 7,905
$31.24 MX$539
300.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nampula
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$67.2 MX$1,159
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11 MX$502
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.86 MX$83.8
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nampula
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$224 MX$3,856
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$4,229 MX$72.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nampula
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$47.10 MX$812
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$44.29 MX$764
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$80.1 MX$1,381
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$92.7 MX$1,598
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nampula
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,063 MX$18.3K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$390 MX$6,728
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$927 MZN 58.6K
$2,149 MX$37.1K
-56.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,272 MX$21.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,001 MX$69.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,502 MX$112.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nampula
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$758 MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
11.45
-

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

Last update for Nampula: September 14, 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
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 139%, 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 $794 per month in Nampula and $1,899 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $529 in Nampula and $1,266 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 49% 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 living in Nampula or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Nampula, where all-in costs run around $529, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. 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.

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