😐A single person spends $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $911 in Port Harcourt, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,458 in Port Harcourt, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,004 in Port Harcourt, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 39% more than Port Harcourt, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Port Harcourt are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Port Harcourt32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Port Harcourt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$204
$2.84₦3,858
317.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$736
$35.50₦48.3K
20.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$183
$7.90₦10.7K
34.81%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.2
$2.03₦2,760
69.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.81
$0.53₦721
183.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.28
$0.50₦684
90.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$51.9
$1.20₦1,631
152.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.1
$1.55₦2,108
197.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Port Harcourt
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.61
-
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.70
$1.52₦2,060
21.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.65
$2.73₦3,718
-41.03%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.51
$2.26₦3,070
14.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$142
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$144
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$183
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.12
$1.94₦2,639
35.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.53
$2.96₦4,027
-49.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.94
$1.89₦2,568
1.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.81
$1.96₦2,670
6.63%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$31.88
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.81
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.23
$1.17₦1,592
-9.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.67
$0.52₦712
109.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.2
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$178
$5.05₦6,868
105.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.59
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$44.85
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Port Harcourt
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.30
$0.13₦172
315.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$462
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$53.7
$0.78₦1,063
301.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.09
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.1
$3.64₦4,955
-13.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$21.88
$0.64₦865
98.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$521.3K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$404.5K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Port Harcourt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,425
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$390
$13.24₦18.0K
71.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$506
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Port Harcourt
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$875
$36.43₦49.5K
39.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$315
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$84.5
$6.46₦8,786
-23.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Port Harcourt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,386
$59.0₦80.2K
234.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$90.6K
$1,083₦1.5M
387.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Port Harcourt
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$633
$9.60₦13.1K
284.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$685
$10.13₦13.8K
293.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,373
$72.4₦98.5K
10.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,536
$66.4₦90.2K
34.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Port Harcourt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.4K
$491₦667.0K
94.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,189
$613₦833.8K
-22.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.3K
$1,945₦2.6M
-15.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.0K
$1,189₦1.6M
2.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$110.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Port Harcourt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.4K
$55.7₦75.7K
1097.68%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Port Harcourt: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $491 in Port Harcourt. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 1098% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $36.00 in Port Harcourt. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $101 – making Port Harcourt the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Port Harcourt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Port Harcourt cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,367 in Port Harcourt. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Port Harcourt, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Port Harcourt?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,271 in Playa del Carmen and $911 in Port Harcourt. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $197 per month in Playa del Carmen and $59.0 in Port Harcourt. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Port Harcourt?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Port Harcourt, where all-in costs run around $911, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Port Harcourt it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Port Harcourt more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Port Harcourt – 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 Port Harcourt. 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