Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Malaysia and Playa del Carmen
For one person, living is cheaper in Malaysia: $908 a month against $1,215 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $3,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
-
Malaysia Living Index44Cost of Living Index in MalaysiaLearn more -
Playa del Carmen Living Index60Cost of Living Index in Playa del CarmenLearn more
🙂 Solo nomad: Malaysia is 33.1% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 25.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Malaysia is 31.2% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 40.4% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Malaysia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.68 MYR 15.03
$10.97 MX$201
-66.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.24 MYR 78.5
$44.85 MX$823
-57.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.82 MYR 19.69
$11.92 MX$219
-59.56%
Cappuccino
$2.87 MYR 11.70
$3.80 MX$69.9
-24.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 MYR 3.30
$1.31 MX$24.08
-38.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 MYR 1.67
$0.86 MX$15.72
-52.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.75 MYR 15.32
$3.21 MX$59.0
16.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76 MYR 19.45
$5.01 MX$92.0
-4.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malaysia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.90 MYR 7.74
$1.46 MX$26.77
30.14%
White Bread (500g)
$1.06 MYR 4.32
$2.33 MX$42.72
-54.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 MYR 6.05
$1.44 MX$26.48
2.78%
Eggs
$2.16 MYR 8.83
$2.46 MX$45.20
-12.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.27 MYR 54.2
$7.70 MX$141
72.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.07 MYR 16.60
$7.89 MX$145
-48.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.71 MYR 35.56
$12.80 MX$235
-31.95%
Apples (1kg)
$3.04 MYR 12.40
$2.92 MX$53.6
4.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 MYR 6.80
$1.42 MX$26.11
16.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.59 MYR 10.59
$2.57 MX$47.10
0.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.58 MYR 6.46
$2.14 MX$39.24
-26.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.22 MYR 4.99
$1.95 MX$35.75
-37.44%
Onion (1kg)
$1.28 MYR 5.23
$1.94 MX$35.55
-34.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 MYR 4.77
$1.15 MX$21.13
1.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 MYR 2.27
$1.22 MX$22.42
-54.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 MYR 18.41
$4.38 MX$80.3
2.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.23 MYR 78.5
$9.85 MX$181
95.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.97 MYR 12.13
$1.54 MX$28.23
92.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04 MYR 16.51
$2.72 MX$49.86
48.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Malaysia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.72 MYR 2.94
$0.52 MX$9.64
38.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.43 MYR 50.8
$27.42 MX$503
-54.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 MYR 4.86
$4.91 MX$90.2
-75.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.95 MYR 3.88
$3.52 MX$64.7
-73.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 MYR 24.92
$5.69 MX$104
7.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.66 MYR 2.69
$1.54 MX$28.27
-57.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.1K MYR 167.7K
$21.2K MX$389.9K
93.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K MYR 141.0K
$24.5K MX$449.6K
40.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malaysia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$55.4 MYR 226
$83.6 MX$1,535
-33.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.14 MYR 41.40
$24.03 MX$441
-57.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.39 MYR 112
$29.33 MX$539
-6.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malaysia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.46 MYR 153
$64.9 MX$1,191
-42.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.20 MYR 29.39
$29.46 MX$541
-75.56%
Cinema Ticket
$5.01 MYR 20.44
$5.09 MX$93.4
-1.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malaysia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$191 MYR 778
$208 MX$3,813
-8.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,217 MYR 33.5K
$4,045 MX$74.3K
103.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malaysia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.2 MYR 258
$44.55 MX$818
41.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.41 MYR 136
$42.06 MX$772
-20.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.0 MYR 327
$75.5 MX$1,387
5.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 MYR 294
$91.4 MX$1,678
-21.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malaysia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$401 MYR 1,636
$986 MX$18.1K
-59.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$272 MYR 1,112
$385 MX$7,072
-29.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$705 MYR 2,880
$1,713 MX$31.5K
-58.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$467 MYR 1,909
$1,108 MX$20.4K
-57.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,042 MYR 8,337
$4,016 MX$73.7K
-49.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,181 MYR 4,822
$6,247 MX$114.7K
-81.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malaysia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$917 MYR 3,745
$758 MX$13.9K
21.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.23
11.45
-63.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Malaysia: October 4, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 4, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Malaysia $272 29.9%
Playa del Carmen $385 31.4% 41.4% $113
Groceries & Markets
Malaysia $253 27.8%
Playa del Carmen $260 21.2% 3% $7.5
Clothing & Footwear
Malaysia $112 12.3%
Playa del Carmen $114 9.3% 2% $2.2
Eating Out
Malaysia $111 12.3%
Playa del Carmen $204 16.6% 83% $92
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malaysia $93 10.2%
Playa del Carmen $137 11.2% 47.5% $44
Sport & Entertainment
Malaysia $47 5.2%
Playa del Carmen $75 6.1% 58.1% $28
Getting Around
Malaysia $21 2.3%
Playa del Carmen $52 4.2% 145% $31
Accommodation & Living
Malaysia $467 25.5%
Playa del Carmen $1.1K 36.5% 137% $641
Groceries & Markets
Malaysia $559 30.5%
Playa del Carmen $602 19.8% 7.7% $43
Clothing & Footwear
Malaysia $249 13.5%
Playa del Carmen $254 8.3% 2% $5
Eating Out
Malaysia $312 17%
Playa del Carmen $631 20.8% 103% $320
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malaysia $103 5.6%
Playa del Carmen $161 5.3% 56.3% $58
Sport & Entertainment
Malaysia $102 5.6%
Playa del Carmen $180 5.9% 75.8% $77
Getting Around
Malaysia $44 2.4%
Playa del Carmen $105 3.5% 139% $61
Good to know
🇲🇾 Malaysia
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
Weather
Population
32,447,385
149,923
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Malaysia Playa del Carmen 17,200 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
- Malaysia
- Playa del Carmen
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Malaysia vs other spots: cost of living compared
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