😐A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $296 in Nampula, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $478 in Nampula, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $659 in Nampula, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 325% more than Nampula, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Nampula are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Nampula78% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Nampula
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$4.24MZN 268
176.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$0.88MZN 55.4
71.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$0.61MZN 38.37
50.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$1.29MZN 81.3
129.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$1.60MZN 101
175.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Nampula
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$1.74MZN 110
-19.54%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$0.48MZN 30.47
291.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$1.07MZN 67.6
45.79%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$2.70MZN 171
-3.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$10.15MZN 642
-18.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$3.43MZN 217
143.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$3.82MZN 242
184.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$2.65MZN 167
2.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$2.39MZN 151
-36.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$2.02MZN 128
-7.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$1.53MZN 96.5
43.14%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$1.42MZN 89.8
30.99%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$1.77MZN 112
25.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$0.81MZN 51.1
32.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$0.86MZN 54.7
26.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
$6.11MZN 386
70.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$2.29MZN 145
-27.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Nampula
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$0.18MZN 11.43
200.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$1.57MZN 99.4
96.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
$2.38MZN 151
0.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$1.54MZN 97.3
-14.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Nampula
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Nampula
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Nampula
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Nampula
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$92.2MZN 5,833
-13.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Nampula
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$920MZN 58.2K
79.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Nampula
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
-
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Nampula: July 27, 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 325%, 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 $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $444 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 and in Nampula?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $296 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 in Nampula?
Groceries cost about 36% 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 Playa del Carmen or in Nampula?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Nampula, where all-in costs run around $296, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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