😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $286 in Nampula, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $466 in Nampula, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $645 in Nampula, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 349% more than Nampula, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Nampula are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, Nampula79% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Nampula
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$4.31MZN 275
177.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$0.82MZN 52.3
79.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.62MZN 39.33
51.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$1.26MZN 80.5
145.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$1.53MZN 97.6
191.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Nampula
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.80MZN 114
-20.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$0.45MZN 28.93
317.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$1.12MZN 71.4
45.54%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$2.74MZN 174
-3.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$9.96MZN 635
-17.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$3.48MZN 222
138.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$3.82MZN 243
190.58%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$2.70MZN 172
-1.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$2.38MZN 152
-36.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$2.04MZN 130
-2.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$1.52MZN 96.8
36.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$1.45MZN 92.6
23.45%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$1.78MZN 113
22.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$0.80MZN 50.9
35.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.89MZN 56.5
16.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$6.23MZN 397
63.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$2.37MZN 151
-27.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Nampula
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$0.14MZN 8.96
271.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$1.53MZN 97.4
105.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$2.33MZN 148
3.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.55MZN 98.5
-18.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Nampula
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Nampula
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Nampula
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Nampula
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$93.9MZN 5,980
-14.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Nampula
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$948MZN 60.4K
68.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Nampula
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Last update for Nampula: April 26, 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
Playa del Carmen vs Nampula: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nampula cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 349%, 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 $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $430 in Nampula. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Nampula?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $286 in Nampula. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Nampula?
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 Playa del Carmen or Nampula?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Nampula, where all-in costs run around $286, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Nampula it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Nampula 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared