Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Harcourt and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Harcourt and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $907 per month in Port Harcourt vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,490 per month in Port Harcourt vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,073 per month in Port Harcourt vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Port Harcourt is about 29% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Port Harcourt and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Port Harcourt 32% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.74 ₦3,743

$11.94 MX$208

-77.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.86 ₦47.6K

$42.75 MX$744

-18.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.00 ₦10.9K

$10.59 MX$184

-24.46%

Cappuccino

$2.00 ₦2,732

$3.62 MX$63.0

-44.75%

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

$0.50 ₦682

$1.47 MX$25.54

-65.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₦677

$0.94 MX$16.41

-46.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.21 ₦1,654

$3.09 MX$53.8

-60.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ₦2,127

$4.46 MX$77.6

-65.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.80

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 ₦2,074

$1.88 MX$32.79

-19.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.82 ₦3,852

$1.63 MX$28.34

73.01%

Eggs

$2.20 ₦3,001

$2.64 MX$45.99

-16.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.21 MX$143

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$144

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.10 MX$193

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 ₦2,770

$2.65 MX$46.14

-23.40%

Banana (1kg)

$2.93 ₦4,001

$1.50 MX$26.11

95.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 ₦2,681

$1.99 MX$34.59

-1.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.98 ₦2,703

$2.08 MX$36.13

-4.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 MX$31.11

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$37.87

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 ₦1,605

$1.08 MX$18.73

8.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₦667

$1.04 MX$18.04

-52.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 MX$69.1

Wine (Bottle)

$4.90 ₦6,694

$10.20 MX$178

-51.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.04

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 MX$43.46

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.11 ₦152

$0.52 MX$9.02

-78.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$469

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.75 ₦1,024

$3.14 MX$54.7

-76.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.80

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 ₦4,956

$3.09 MX$53.7

17.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 ₦883

$1.27 MX$22.16

-48.82%

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

$30.9K MX$537.3K

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

$23.3K MX$405.7K

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

$82.0 MX$1,427

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

$12.92 ₦17.6K

$22.45 MX$391

-42.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 MX$516

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.42 ₦49.7K

$51.9 MX$903

-29.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$6.48 ₦8,846

$4.97 MX$86.5

30.38%

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

$58.3 ₦79.7K

$198 MX$3,442

-70.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,097 ₦1.5M

$5,273 MX$91.7K

-79.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.31 ₦12.7K

$36.34 MX$632

-74.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.41 ₦14.2K

$40.05 MX$697

-74.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.4 ₦97.5K

$79.9 MX$1,390

-10.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.1 ₦90.3K

$88.9 MX$1,547

-25.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ₦664.1K

$963 MX$16.8K

-49.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$611 ₦835.0K

$465 MX$8,086

31.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,949 ₦2.7M

$1,596 MX$27.8K

22.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,171 ₦1.6M

$1,209 MX$21.0K

-3.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,942 MX$68.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,448 MX$112.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$69.8 ₦95.3K

$720 MX$12.5K

-90.31%

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 Port Harcourt: April 25, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $486 in Port Harcourt versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. 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 932% 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 $35.00 in Port Harcourt versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $101 vs $251 – 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

Port Harcourt vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 42%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,361 per month in Port Harcourt and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $907 in Port Harcourt and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $58.3 per month in Port Harcourt and $198 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Port Harcourt, where all-in costs run around $907, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Port Harcourt it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.