Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Belait and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Belait and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,642 per month in Kuala Belait vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,431 per month in Kuala Belait vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,220 per month in Kuala Belait vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Kuala Belait costs about 27% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Kuala Belait sits 23% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.62 BND 4.63

$11.73 MX$203

-69.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.89 BND 60.0

$41.62 MX$720

12.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.69 BND 9.84

$10.64 MX$184

-27.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 BND 2.55

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 BND 2.95

Cappuccino

$4.51 BND 5.77

$3.52 MX$60.9

28.12%

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

$0.97 BND 1.23

$1.51 MX$26.12

-35.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 BND 0.72

$0.97 MX$16.84

-42.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

Milk (1 liter)

$2.45 BND 3.14

$1.38 MX$23.93

77.54%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 BND 3.19

$1.89 MX$32.72

31.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 BND 2.93

$1.64 MX$28.32

39.63%

Eggs

$2.60 BND 3.33

$2.51 MX$43.34

3.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.55 BND 23.73

$8.34 MX$144

122.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.84 BND 12.59

$8.34 MX$144

17.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.05 BND 32.05

$10.73 MX$186

133.46%

Apples (1kg)

$4.68 BND 5.99

$2.60 MX$45.04

80.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.63 BND 3.37

$1.46 MX$25.20

80.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.10 BND 3.97

$1.90 MX$32.87

63.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.80 BND 3.58

$2.08 MX$35.91

34.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.64 BND 2.10

$1.78 MX$30.71

-7.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 BND 2.83

$2.19 MX$37.80

0.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.49 BND 7.03

$1.04 MX$17.99

427.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 BND 1.04

$1.08 MX$18.62

-25.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$11.53 BND 14.76

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.91 BND 7.57

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 BND 1.98

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.62 BND 9.75

$4.08 MX$70.6

86.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.61

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.54

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.56 BND 5.83

$3.26 MX$56.4

39.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.88 BND 15.21

$3.25 MX$56.2

265.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.35 BND 0.45

$1.31 MX$22.61

-73.28%

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

$23.0K BND 29.4K

$30.3K MX$523.7K

-24.06%

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

$26.9K BND 34.4K

$23.4K MX$405.3K

14.62%

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

$39.27 BND 50.3

$82.9 MX$1,433

-52.61%

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

$21.38 BND 27.36

$22.22 MX$384

-3.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.1 BND 82.0

$29.34 MX$507

118.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.8 BND 124

$51.6 MX$893

87.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.48 BND 27.48

$18.32 MX$317

17.25%

Cinema Ticket

$5.33 BND 6.83

$5.07 MX$87.6

5.13%

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

$157 BND 201

$201 MX$3,473

-21.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,152 BND 11.7K

$5,212 MX$90.1K

75.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$98.8 BND 126

$36.92 MX$639

167.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$99.5 BND 127

$39.79 MX$688

150.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 BND 160

$78.5 MX$1,357

59.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.8 BND 82.9

$87.1 MX$1,506

-25.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$727 BND 930

$973 MX$16.8K

-25.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$766 BND 980

$468 MX$8,090

63.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,167 BND 1,494

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-28.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,166 BND 1,493

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-4.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,392 BND 4,341

$664 MX$11.5K

410.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.06

11.42

-64.45%

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

Last update for Kuala Belait: June 2, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $727 in Kuala Belait 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 411% higher in Kuala Belait, 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 $47.00 in Kuala Belait versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $356 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,642 in Kuala Belait, $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 27% apart. Kuala Belait costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,463 per month in Kuala Belait 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 $1,642 in Kuala Belait and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $157 per month in Kuala Belait and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Kuala Belait at $1,642. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kuala Belait 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 $1,297 in Playa del Carmen to $1,642 in Kuala Belait. 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 Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kuala Belait makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.