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 $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $291 in Nampula, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $472 in Nampula, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $653 in Nampula, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 337% more than Nampula, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Nampula are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Nampula 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.87 MX$204

$4.37 MZN 277

171.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.90 MX$736

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.65 MX$183

Cappuccino

$3.45 MX$59.2

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 MX$25.81

$0.88 MZN 55.8

70.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 MX$16.28

$0.61 MZN 38.73

55.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MX$51.9

$1.26 MZN 79.8

140.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 MX$79.1

$1.60 MZN 101

188.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.61

$1.82 MZN 115

-24.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.85 MX$31.70

$0.46 MZN 28.90

302.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 MX$27.65

$1.08 MZN 68.3

49.07%

Eggs

$2.59 MX$44.51

$2.73 MZN 172

-5.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 MX$142

$9.88 MZN 625

-16.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.37 MX$144

$3.37 MZN 213

148.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.66 MX$183

$3.89 MZN 246

174.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 MX$45.12

$2.70 MZN 170

-2.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 MX$25.53

$2.41 MZN 153

-38.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 MX$32.94

$2.04 MZN 129

-5.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$35.81

$1.58 MZN 99.7

32.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$31.88

$1.43 MZN 90.3

30.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.81

$1.78 MZN 112

26.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 MX$18.23

$0.75 MZN 47.75

41.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.67

$0.81 MZN 51.2

34.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.15 MX$71.2

Wine (Bottle)

$10.39 MX$178

$6.28 MZN 397

65.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 MX$29.59

$2.40 MZN 152

-28.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$44.85

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.30

$0.17 MZN 10.47

217.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.94 MX$462

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$53.7

$1.52 MZN 96.3

105.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.51 MX$43.09

$2.33 MZN 148

7.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 MX$54.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$21.88

$1.51 MZN 95.4

-15.89%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.4K MX$521.3K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.6K MX$404.5K

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

$83.0 MX$1,425

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

$22.71 MX$390

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.46 MX$506

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.0 MX$875

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.33 MX$315

Cinema Ticket

$4.93 MX$84.5

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

$197 MX$3,386

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,280 MX$90.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.90 MX$633

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.89 MX$685

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.0 MX$1,373

$95.1 MZN 6,014

-15.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.5 MX$1,536

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$956 MX$16.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$477 MX$8,189

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,646 MX$28.3K

$938 MZN 59.3K

75.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,225 MX$21.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,918 MX$67.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,459 MX$110.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$667 MX$11.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Last update for Nampula: June 8, 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 337%, 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 $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $436 in Nampula. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,271 in Playa del Carmen and $291 in Nampula. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

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.

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.

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.