Cost of Living Comparison Between Kepong and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Kepong and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $941 per month in Kepong vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,363 per month in Kepong vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,785 per month in Kepong vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Kepong is about 28% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Kepong and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Kepong 32% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.78 MYR 15.37

$11.96 MX$203

-68.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.88 MYR 101

$47.38 MX$804

-47.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 MYR 20.05

$11.75 MX$199

-58.04%

Cappuccino

$2.94 MYR 11.96

$4.12 MX$70.0

-28.64%

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

$0.87 MYR 3.55

$1.40 MX$23.74

-37.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.83

$0.91 MX$15.48

-50.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.43 MYR 13.95

$3.21 MX$54.4

6.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.96 MYR 24.24

$7.07 MX$120

-15.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 MYR 7.12

$1.68 MX$28.44

4.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MYR 4.19

$2.15 MX$36.48

-52.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.91

$1.77 MX$30.10

-18.08%

Eggs

$1.79 MYR 7.28

$2.82 MX$47.76

-36.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.74 MYR 39.64

$9.20 MX$156

5.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.38 MYR 13.75

$9.23 MX$157

-63.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.59 MYR 39.00

$12.64 MX$214

-24.13%

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 MYR 13.37

$2.95 MX$50.1

11.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 MYR 6.93

$1.58 MX$26.79

7.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.76 MYR 11.23

$2.22 MX$37.70

24.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 MYR 6.62

$2.36 MX$40.09

-30.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.44 MYR 5.84

$1.99 MX$33.81

-27.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.73 MYR 7.02

$1.98 MX$33.58

-12.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.38 MYR 5.59

$1.24 MX$21.04

11.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.23

$1.21 MX$20.55

-54.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 17.05

$4.60 MX$78.1

-8.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.97 MYR 56.9

$10.52 MX$178

32.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.69 MYR 10.94

$1.69 MX$28.70

59.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 MYR 12.24

$2.77 MX$47.06

8.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.77

$0.60 MX$10.22

13.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.20 MYR 49.63

$29.70 MX$504

-58.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.26 MYR 5.12

$5.24 MX$88.8

-75.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 MYR 1.55

$3.65 MX$61.9

-89.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.27 MYR 37.70

$5.78 MX$98.1

60.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 MYR 3.02

$1.54 MX$26.09

-51.95%

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

$42.9K MYR 174.3K

$22.8K MX$386.8K

87.93%

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

$33.5K MYR 136.5K

$25.8K MX$437.9K

29.97%

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

$49.88 MYR 203

$90.7 MX$1,538

-44.99%

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

$8.25 MYR 33.55

$25.19 MX$427

-67.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.06 MYR 110

$31.75 MX$539

-14.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.12 MYR 179

$68.8 MX$1,167

-35.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.08 MYR 24.74

$29.37 MX$498

-79.30%

Cinema Ticket

$4.95 MYR 20.15

$4.86 MX$82.5

1.85%

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

$167 MYR 680

$226 MX$3,828

-25.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,520 MYR 18.4K

$4,194 MX$71.1K

7.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.4 MYR 250

$47.38 MX$804

29.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.57 MYR 100.0

$43.45 MX$737

-43.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 MYR 332

$80.2 MX$1,361

1.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.99 MYR 203

$91.4 MX$1,550

-45.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 MYR 1,756

$1,086 MX$18.4K

-60.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$334 MYR 1,357

$409 MX$6,933

-18.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$701 MYR 2,852

$1,972 MX$33.5K

-64.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$497 MYR 2,023

$1,281 MX$21.7K

-61.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,099 MYR 8,538

$4,046 MX$68.6K

-48.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,117 MYR 4,543

$6,704 MX$113.7K

-83.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$669 MYR 2,720

$773 MX$13.1K

-13.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.06

11.45

-64.54%

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

Last update for Kepong: September 6, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Kepong 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 16% 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 $25.00 in Kepong versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $229 vs $278 – making Kepong 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $941 in Kepong, $1,305 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 39% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,411 per month in Kepong and $1,958 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 Kepong, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 143% less in Kepong. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $167 per month in Kepong and $226 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 Kepong, where all-in costs run around $941, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Kepong it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $941 in Kepong to $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Kepong. 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.