🙂A single person spends $936 per month in Kampar vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,366 per month in Kampar vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,797 per month in Kampar vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Kampar is about 28% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Kampar and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Kampar32% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kampar
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.22MYR 9.01
$11.96MX$203
-81.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.63MYR 79.9
$47.38MX$804
-58.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.89MYR 19.89
$11.75MX$199
-58.38%
Cappuccino
$2.55MYR 10.37
$4.12MX$70.0
-38.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52MYR 2.10
$1.40MX$23.74
-62.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50MYR 2.03
$0.91MX$15.48
-45.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.20MYR 8.96
$3.21MX$54.4
-31.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.21MYR 25.27
$7.07MX$120
-12.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kampar
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93MYR 7.83
$1.68MX$28.44
14.88%
White Bread(500g)
$0.77MYR 3.14
$2.15MX$36.48
-64.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.00MYR 8.12
$1.77MX$30.10
12.99%
Eggs
$1.75MYR 7.12
$2.82MX$47.76
-37.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.93MYR 60.7
$9.20MX$156
62.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.88MYR 19.85
$9.23MX$157
-47.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.28MYR 29.60
$12.64MX$214
-42.41%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39MYR 13.78
$2.95MX$50.1
14.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.86MYR 7.58
$1.58MX$26.79
17.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.36MYR 9.59
$2.22MX$37.70
6.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60MYR 6.50
$2.36MX$40.09
-32.20%
Potato(1kg)
$1.39MYR 5.64
$1.99MX$33.81
-30.15%
Onion(1kg)
$1.38MYR 5.62
$1.98MX$33.58
-30.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16MYR 4.70
$1.24MX$21.04
-6.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75MYR 3.05
$1.21MX$20.55
-38.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41MYR 17.93
$4.60MX$78.1
-4.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.40MYR 78.9
$10.52MX$178
84.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.55MYR 14.45
$1.69MX$28.70
110.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.90MYR 19.93
$2.77MX$47.06
76.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Kampar
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.71MYR 2.90
$0.60MX$10.22
18.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.56MYR 51.1
$29.70MX$504
-57.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.22MYR 4.97
$5.24MX$88.8
-76.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.50MYR 2.05
$3.65MX$61.9
-86.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.03MYR 20.45
$5.78MX$98.1
-12.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.65MYR 2.63
$1.54MX$26.09
-57.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.1KMYR 171.5K
$22.8KMX$386.8K
84.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9KMYR 142.1K
$25.8KMX$437.9K
35.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kampar
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$49.06MYR 200
$90.7MX$1,538
-45.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.85MYR 19.71
$25.19MX$427
-80.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.39MYR 91.1
$31.75MX$539
-29.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kampar
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.31MYR 168
$68.8MX$1,167
-39.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.74MYR 27.42
$29.37MX$498
-77.05%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MYR 20.02
$4.86MX$82.5
1.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kampar
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$123MYR 500
$226MX$3,828
-45.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,938MYR 20.1K
$4,194MX$71.1K
17.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kampar
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4MYR 254
$47.38MX$804
31.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$12.17MYR 49.50
$43.45MX$737
-71.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.1MYR 301
$80.2MX$1,361
-7.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.6MYR 304
$91.4MX$1,550
-18.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kampar
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$436MYR 1,774
$1,086MX$18.4K
-59.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$330MYR 1,343
$409MX$6,933
-19.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$713MYR 2,900
$1,972MX$33.5K
-63.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$497MYR 2,021
$1,281MX$21.7K
-61.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,052MYR 8,347
$4,046MX$68.6K
-49.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,154MYR 4,693
$6,704MX$113.7K
-82.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kampar
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$370MYR 1,507
$773MX$13.1K
-52.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.2
11.45
-63.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kampar: September 6, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $436 in Kampar versus $1,086 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 109% 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 $20.00 in Kampar versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $265 vs $278 – making Kampar 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
Kampar vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Kampar?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,403 per month in Kampar and $1,958 in Playa del Carmen. 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 Kampar, 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 Kampar and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $936 in Kampar and $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 136% less in Kampar. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Kampar or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kampar, where all-in costs run around $936, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Kampar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Kampar or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kampar – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Kampar or Playa del Carmen?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kampar. 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.