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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,689 per month in Port Moresby vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,472 per month in Port Moresby vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,255 per month in Port Moresby vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Port Moresby costs about 30% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Port Moresby sits 26% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.84 PGK 42.93

$11.73 MX$203

-16.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.81 PGK 209

$41.62 MX$720

14.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.94 PGK 25.92

$10.64 MX$184

-44.17%

Cappuccino

$2.29 PGK 10.01

$3.52 MX$60.9

-34.94%

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

$0.75 PGK 3.29

$1.51 MX$26.12

-50.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 PGK 3.63

$0.97 MX$16.84

-14.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 PGK 10.35

$2.95 MX$51.0

-19.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.15 PGK 18.10

$4.45 MX$77.0

-6.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 PGK 8.72

$1.38 MX$23.93

44.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 PGK 6.80

$1.89 MX$32.72

-17.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.49 PGK 6.48

$1.64 MX$28.32

-9.15%

Eggs

$3.89 PGK 16.95

$2.51 MX$43.34

54.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.56 PGK 19.88

$8.34 MX$144

-45.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.41 PGK 27.97

$8.34 MX$144

-23.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.34 PGK 40.72

$10.73 MX$186

-12.95%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 PGK 17.34

$2.60 MX$45.04

53.08%

Banana (1kg)

$2.89 PGK 12.62

$1.46 MX$25.20

97.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.58 PGK 24.34

$1.90 MX$32.87

193.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.66 PGK 24.67

$2.08 MX$35.91

172.12%

Potato (1kg)

$3.40 PGK 14.81

$1.78 MX$30.71

91.01%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 PGK 11.70

$2.19 MX$37.80

22.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.96 PGK 12.89

$1.04 MX$17.99

184.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PGK 5.74

$1.08 MX$18.62

22.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.67 PGK 29.09

$4.08 MX$70.6

63.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.88 PGK 51.8

$10.32 MX$178

15.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 PGK 12.58

$1.71 MX$29.61

68.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PGK 16.65

$2.58 MX$44.54

48.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 PGK 2.04

$0.51 MX$8.81

-7.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.77 PGK 104

$26.46 MX$458

-10.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.85 PGK 25.52

$3.26 MX$56.4

79.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 PGK 10.49

$2.49 MX$43.09

-3.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.49 PGK 71.9

$3.25 MX$56.2

407.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 PGK 4.99

$1.31 MX$22.61

-12.98%

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

$22.9K PGK 99.9K

$30.3K MX$523.7K

-24.33%

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

$24.6K PGK 107.3K

$23.4K MX$405.3K

4.99%

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

$105 PGK 458

$82.9 MX$1,433

26.61%

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

$46.75 PGK 204

$22.22 MX$384

110.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$382 PGK 1,667

$29.34 MX$507

1202.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 PGK 293

$51.6 MX$893

30.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.62 PGK 89.9

$18.32 MX$317

12.55%

Cinema Ticket

$9.73 PGK 42.44

$5.07 MX$87.6

91.91%

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

$639 PGK 2,787

$201 MX$3,473

218.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,095 PGK 17.9K

$5,212 MX$90.1K

-21.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.07 PGK 136

$36.92 MX$639

-15.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.74 PGK 160

$39.79 MX$688

-7.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.1 PGK 336

$78.5 MX$1,357

-1.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.6 PGK 430

$87.1 MX$1,506

13.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,151 PGK 9,380

$973 MX$16.8K

121.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$481 PGK 2,096

$468 MX$8,090

2.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,423 PGK 14.9K

$1,641 MX$28.4K

108.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$826 PGK 3,603

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-32.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,127 PGK 9,275

$3,946 MX$68.3K

-46.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,892 PGK 17.0K

$6,498 MX$112.4K

-40.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$446 PGK 1,945

$664 MX$11.5K

-32.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.33

11.42

16.73%

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

Last update for Port Moresby: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,151 in Port Moresby versus $973 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 49% higher in Playa del Carmen, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Port Moresby versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $308 vs $249 – making Playa del Carmen 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 Moresby vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Port Moresby is pricier by about 30%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,533 per month in Port Moresby and $1,945 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 Playa del Carmen, 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 $1,689 in Port Moresby and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 11% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Port Moresby at $1,689. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port Moresby it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – 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 Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Port Moresby makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.