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 $1,520 per month in Port Moresby vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,391 per month in Port Moresby vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,262 per month in Port Moresby vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Port Moresby costs about 20% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Port Moresby sits 11% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.72 PGK 33.55

$11.60 MX$199

-33.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.79 PGK 199

$47.11 MX$809

-2.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.78 PGK 25.10

$11.88 MX$204

-51.35%

Cappuccino

$2.47 PGK 10.72

$3.98 MX$68.2

-37.94%

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

$0.75 PGK 3.24

$1.43 MX$24.49

-47.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 PGK 3.01

$0.82 MX$14.16

-15.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.06 PGK 13.30

$3.19 MX$54.7

-4.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 PGK 16.05

$6.79 MX$117

-45.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 PGK 8.18

$1.68 MX$28.76

11.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 PGK 6.63

$2.20 MX$37.71

-30.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.45 PGK 6.29

$1.71 MX$29.32

-15.20%

Eggs

$3.62 PGK 15.72

$2.74 MX$47.05

32.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.90 PGK 38.67

$9.58 MX$164

-7.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.17 PGK 22.45

$9.01 MX$155

-42.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.10 PGK 39.54

$12.81 MX$220

-28.96%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 PGK 17.92

$2.89 MX$49.58

42.56%

Banana (1kg)

$3.07 PGK 13.35

$1.50 MX$25.70

104.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.85 PGK 25.44

$2.15 MX$36.87

172.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.15 PGK 26.74

$2.26 MX$38.79

172.12%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 PGK 14.30

$1.98 MX$34.00

66.16%

Onion (1kg)

$2.60 PGK 11.29

$1.99 MX$34.15

30.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.09 PGK 9.09

$1.23 MX$21.18

69.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 PGK 5.43

$1.20 MX$20.54

4.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.17 PGK 26.81

$4.55 MX$78.1

35.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.58 PGK 50.3

$10.37 MX$178

11.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.75 PGK 11.97

$1.62 MX$27.79

69.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 PGK 14.97

$2.88 MX$49.44

19.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 PGK 1.89

$0.60 MX$10.30

-28.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.32 PGK 97.0

$28.80 MX$494

-22.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.70 PGK 24.75

$5.39 MX$92.5

5.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.27 PGK 9.88

$3.73 MX$64.0

-39.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.46 PGK 67.2

$5.77 MX$99.0

167.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 PGK 4.32

$1.54 MX$26.37

-35.71%

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

$21.5K PGK 93.4K

$22.5K MX$387.0K

-4.67%

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

$17.9K PGK 77.6K

$26.1K MX$447.3K

-31.49%

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

$121 PGK 525

$91.4 MX$1,569

32.18%

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

$23.52 PGK 102

$25.20 MX$433

-6.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$94.5 PGK 410

$31.24 MX$536

202.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.0 PGK 265

$67.2 MX$1,154

-9.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.17 PGK 96.3

$29.11 MX$500

-23.84%

Cinema Ticket

$9.21 PGK 40.02

$4.86 MX$83.5

89.51%

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

$855 PGK 3,714

$224 MX$3,839

282.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,169 PGK 26.8K

$4,229 MX$72.6K

45.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.67 PGK 142

$47.10 MX$808

-30.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.53 PGK 141

$44.29 MX$760

-26.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$137 PGK 595

$80.1 MX$1,375

70.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 PGK 716

$92.7 MX$1,591

77.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,633 PGK 7,096

$1,063 MX$18.2K

53.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$556 PGK 2,414

$390 MX$6,698

42.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,740 PGK 11.9K

$2,149 MX$36.9K

27.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,155 PGK 5,018

$1,272 MX$21.8K

-9.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,043 PGK 8,879

$4,001 MX$68.7K

-48.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,781 PGK 16.4K

$6,502 MX$111.6K

-41.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$429 PGK 1,863

$758 MX$13.0K

-43.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.17

11.45

6.29%

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

Last update for Port Moresby: September 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,633 in Port Moresby versus $1,063 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 77% 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 $46.00 in Port Moresby versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $310 in Port Moresby vs $276 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 20%, 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 $2,281 per month in Port Moresby and $1,899 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 $1,520 in Port Moresby and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 29% 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 $1,266, than in Port Moresby at $1,520. 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.