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

Monthly Cost of Living

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 Carmen 4% lower, Nampula 79% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Nampula
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94 MX$209
$4.31 MZN 275
177.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$748
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 MX$185
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.62 MX$63.4
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.69
$0.82 MZN 52.3
79.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 MX$16.51
$0.62 MZN 39.33
51.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$54.1
$1.26 MZN 80.5
145.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 MX$78.0
$1.53 MZN 97.6
191.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Nampula
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$1.80 MZN 114
-20.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.97
$0.45 MZN 28.93
317.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.50
$1.12 MZN 71.4
45.54%
Eggs
$2.64 MX$46.26
$2.74 MZN 174
-3.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 MX$144
$9.96 MZN 635
-17.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$3.48 MZN 222
138.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.10 MX$194
$3.82 MZN 243
190.58%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 MX$46.40
$2.70 MZN 172
-1.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$26.26
$2.38 MZN 152
-36.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.79
$2.04 MZN 130
-2.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.33
$1.52 MZN 96.8
36.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.29
$1.45 MZN 92.6
23.45%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.09
$1.78 MZN 113
22.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.84
$0.80 MZN 50.9
35.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 MX$18.15
$0.89 MZN 56.5
16.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 MX$69.5
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$10.20 MX$179
$6.23 MZN 397
63.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.22
$2.37 MZN 151
-27.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 MX$43.71
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Nampula
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.07
$0.14 MZN 8.96
271.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.97 MX$472
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$55.0
$1.53 MZN 97.4
105.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$42.04
$2.33 MZN 148
3.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 MX$54.0
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$22.28
$1.55 MZN 98.5
-18.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K MX$540.4K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$408.0K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Nampula
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,435
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45 MX$393
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66 MX$519
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Nampula
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.9 MX$908
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67 MX$327
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 MX$87.0
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Nampula
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,462
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,273 MX$92.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Nampula
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34 MX$636
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05 MX$701
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 MX$1,398
$93.9 MZN 5,980
-14.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,555
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Nampula
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,133
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,596 MX$27.9K
$948 MZN 60.4K
68.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 MX$21.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,942 MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,448 MX$112.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Nampula
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$720 MX$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.

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