😐A single person spends $1,466 per month in Portimao vs $974 in Acapulco, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,210 per month in Portimao vs $1,448 in Acapulco, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,953 per month in Portimao vs $1,921 in Acapulco, rent included.
😐Portimao costs about 51% more than Acapulco, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Portimao sits 10% above the global median, while Acapulco is 27% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Portimao
Acapulco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.48€10.06
$10.66MX$186
7.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.9€46.33
$32.14MX$560
64.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.48€9.17
$11.30MX$197
-7.26%
Cappuccino
$2.31€2.02
$3.61MX$62.9
-36.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77€1.55
$1.83MX$31.89
-3.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64€1.43
$1.63MX$28.41
0.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.47€2.17
$2.68MX$46.59
-7.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27€2.86
$4.72MX$82.2
-30.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Portimao
Acapulco
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12€0.98
$1.61MX$28.00
-30.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.60€1.40
$3.18MX$55.4
-49.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.73€1.52
$1.55MX$26.99
11.61%
Eggs
$3.18€2.79
$1.75MX$30.41
81.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.13€10.62
$6.37MX$111
90.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.52€6.58
$8.16MX$142
-7.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.21€9.82
$10.45MX$182
7.27%
Apples(1kg)
$2.41€2.11
$4.37MX$76.2
-44.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.32€1.16
$1.71MX$29.75
-22.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.46€1.28
$3.22MX$56.2
-54.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.40€2.10
$3.09MX$53.8
-22.33%
Potato(1kg)
$2.14€1.88
$3.26MX$56.8
-34.36%
Onion(1kg)
$2.34€2.05
$2.80MX$48.76
-16.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.67€1.46
$1.20MX$20.96
39.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.70
$0.81MX$14.11
-1.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.04€5.29
$7.79MX$136
-22.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.75€5.04
$6.74MX$117
-14.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08€0.95
$1.08MX$18.74
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46€2.15
$2.63MX$45.79
-6.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Portimao
Acapulco
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.78€1.56
$0.73MX$12.74
143.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$13.61€11.92
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.55€3.11
$4.21MX$73.3
-15.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$1.56MX$27.11
-48.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.44€15.27
$8.48MX$148
105.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.96€1.72
$1.32MX$23.05
48.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K€30.8K
$21.5KMX$374.8K
63.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.7K
$22.9KMX$398.2K
73.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Portimao
Acapulco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$117€102
$38.62MX$673
202.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.27€23.01
$22.48MX$391
16.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.78€41.85
$21.00MX$366
127.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Portimao
Acapulco
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.37€43.24
$18.38MX$320
168.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.01€16.65
$12.97MX$226
46.57%
Cinema Ticket
$8.21€7.19
$3.74MX$65.1
119.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Portimao
Acapulco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$636€557
$156MX$2,713
308.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,656€4,078
$3,663MX$63.8K
27.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Portimao
Acapulco
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1€47.35
$63.1MX$1,098
-14.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.96€20.99
$43.08MX$750
-44.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$47.11€41.25
$108MX$1,879
-56.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.1€60.5
$79.2MX$1,379
-12.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Portimao
Acapulco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$918€804
$495MX$8,628
85.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$707€619
$236MX$4,116
199.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,408€1,233
$921MX$16.0K
52.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,137€996
$248MX$4,326
357.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,276€3,745
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,269€2,863
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Portimao
Acapulco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,015€889
$479MX$8,332
112.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.86
11.5
-57.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Portimao: July 13, 2026
Last update for Acapulco: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $918 in Portimao versus $495 in Acapulco. 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 112% higher in Portimao, 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 $53.0 in Portimao versus $32.00 in Acapulco. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Portimao vs $267 in Acapulco – so Portimao 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
Portimao vs Acapulco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Portimao or Acapulco?
Portimao costs about 51% more than Acapulco, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Portimao and in Acapulco?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,199 per month in Portimao and $1,461 in Acapulco. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Portimao or Acapulco?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Acapulco, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Portimao compared to Acapulco?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,466 in Portimao and $974 in Acapulco. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Portimao and in Acapulco?
Kindergarten costs $636 per month in Portimao and $156 in Acapulco. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Portimao or in Acapulco?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Acapulco, where all-in costs run around $974, than in Portimao at $1,466. In Acapulco it covers expenses comfortably, while in Portimao it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Acapulco – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Portimao compared to Acapulco?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Portimao or to Acapulco?
If budget matters most, go with Acapulco. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Portimao makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.