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

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

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

Playa del Carmen costs about 139% more than Nampula, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.60 MX$200

$5.63 MZN 356

106.04%

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)

$1.43 MX$24.60

$0.80 MZN 50.7

78.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 MX$14.22

$0.41 MZN 25.81

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$55.0

$1.57 MZN 99.6

103.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.89

$1.78 MZN 113

-5.62%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 MX$37.88

$0.49 MZN 31.14

348.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.45

$1.10 MZN 69.7

55.45%

Eggs

$2.74 MX$47.26

$2.82 MZN 178

-2.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MX$165

$10.01 MZN 633

-4.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 MX$155

$3.42 MZN 217

163.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.81 MX$221

$3.93 MZN 248

225.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 MX$49.81

$2.62 MZN 166

10.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.81

$2.32 MZN 147

-35.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.03

$1.95 MZN 123

10.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.96

$1.52 MZN 96.2

48.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 MX$34.15

$1.41 MZN 89.4

40.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.30

$1.69 MZN 107

17.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 MX$21.28

$0.79 MZN 49.81

55.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.63

$0.85 MZN 53.5

41.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 MX$78.5

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$179

$6.36 MZN 402

63.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.91

$2.39 MZN 151

-32.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.67

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.35

$0.17 MZN 10.45

252.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$497

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 MX$92.9

$1.54 MZN 97.4

250.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.3

$2.42 MZN 153

54.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.48

$1.50 MZN 95.0

2.67%

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

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$91.4 MX$1,576

$120 MZN 7,577

-23.72%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.20 MX$435

$33.82 MZN 2,139

-25.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.24 MX$539

$125 MZN 7,905

-75.00%

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

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$224 MX$3,856

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.9K

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

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)

$2,149 MX$37.1K

$927 MZN 58.6K

131.95%

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

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Last update for Nampula: September 14, 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

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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $794 in Nampula. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $529 in Nampula. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

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.

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.

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.

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.