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

🙂 Solo nomad: Kuching is 35.4% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 36.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Kuching is 20.6% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 46.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kuching
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.8 MYR 11.82
$11.99 MX$227
-76.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.06 MYR 84.6
$42.47 MX$803
-52.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.69 MYR 19.76
$10.47 MX$198
-55.21%
Cappuccino
$2.57 MYR 10.83
$3.6 MX$68.2
-28.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 MYR 3
$1.44 MX$27.16
-50.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 MYR 1.37
$0.89 MX$16.79
-64.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.77 MYR 11.68
$3.09 MX$58.5
-10.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 MYR 15.08
$4.58 MX$86.6
-21.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kuching
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 MYR 8.24
$1.38 MX$26.04
41.30%
White Bread (500g)
$1.13 MYR 4.77
$1.85 MX$34.9
-38.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 MYR 4.27
$1.57 MX$29.68
-35.67%
Eggs
$2.13 MYR 9
$2.55 MX$48.3
-16.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.36 MYR 39.48
$8.61 MX$163
8.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.85 MYR 16.23
$8.54 MX$161
-54.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.88 MYR 33.24
$10.98 MX$208
-28.23%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 MYR 12.72
$2.72 MX$51.4
11.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.1 MYR 4.64
$1.51 MX$28.57
-27.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.62 MYR 11.06
$1.88 MX$35.63
39.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.84 MYR 7.75
$2.19 MX$41.42
-15.98%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 MYR 4.85
$1.87 MX$35.3
-38.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.22 MYR 5.16
$2.19 MX$41.37
-44.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.68 MYR 7.07
$1.07 MX$20.23
57.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 MYR 2.2
$1.09 MX$20.64
-52.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 MYR 17.47
$3.96 MX$74.9
4.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.41 MYR 81.8
$8.86 MX$167
119.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.72 MYR 15.7
$1.72 MX$32.53
116.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 MYR 14.26
$2.61 MX$49.37
29.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Kuching
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 MYR 1.06
$0.52 MX$9.74
-51.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.57 MYR 48.8
$26.59 MX$503
-56.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.91 MYR 3.83
$3.24 MX$61.2
-71.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 MYR 4.83
$2.38 MX$44.94
-52.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.94 MYR 8.17
$3.11 MX$58.7
-37.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.5 MYR 2.11
$1.31 MX$24.85
-61.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.9K MYR 189.4K
$30.3K MX$573K
48.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.1K MYR 152.3K
$24K MX$453.6K
50.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuching
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$42.14 MYR 178
$84.2 MX$1,592
-49.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.94 MYR 37.71
$22.14 MX$419
-59.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.81 MYR 105
$30.14 MX$570
-17.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kuching
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.84 MYR 126
$52 MX$983
-42.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.89 MYR 41.73
$18.72 MX$354
-47.17%
Cinema Ticket
$4.62 MYR 19.47
$5.07 MX$95.9
-8.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kuching
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$144 MYR 606
$200 MX$3,787
-28.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,013 MYR 25.4K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
12.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kuching
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66 MYR 278
$35.74 MX$676
84.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.77 MYR 134
$39.8 MX$753
-20.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.6 MYR 361
$79 MX$1,493
8.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2 MYR 304
$88.4 MX$1,671
-18.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kuching
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$278 MYR 1,171
$965 MX$18.3K
-71.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$208 MYR 877
$474 MX$8,968
-56.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$571 MYR 2,409
$1,653 MX$31.2K
-65.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 MYR 1,645
$1,202 MX$22.7K
-67.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,881 MYR 7,934
$3,081 MX$58.3K
-38.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,330 MYR 5,607
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-82.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kuching
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$565 MYR 2,384
$792 MX$15K
-28.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.27
11.42
-62.61%

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

Last update for Kuching: October 29, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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