Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Batu Kawan Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Batu Kawan

😐 Solo nomad: Playa del Carmen is 22.6% more expensive than Batu Kawan without rent, and 32.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Playa del Carmen is 20% more expensive than Batu Kawan without rent, and 54.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Batu Kawan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.85 MX$212
$4.77 MYR 18.84
148.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.16 MX$755
$28.32 MYR 112
48.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.75 MX$192
$4.79 MYR 18.93
124.43%
Cappuccino
$3.47 MX$62.2
$3.07 MYR 12.11
13.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$26.01
$0.85 MYR 3.34
70.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 MX$16.16
$0.54 MYR 2.11
66.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 MX$54.7
$4.35 MYR 17.17
-29.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.42 MX$79.1
$5.75 MYR 22.70
-23.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Batu Kawan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 MX$24.51
$1.42 MYR 5.62
-3.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.87 MX$33.51
$1.04 MYR 4.12
79.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 MX$27.63
$0.74 MYR 2.92
108.11%
Eggs
$2.50 MX$44.81
$1.96 MYR 7.74
27.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.61 MX$154
$14.64 MYR 57.8
-41.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.63 MX$155
$4.54 MYR 17.94
90.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.02 MX$197
$9.67 MYR 38.18
13.96%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 MX$49.22
$2.86 MYR 11.28
-3.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 MX$25.56
$1.55 MYR 6.14
-7.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 MX$33.52
$2.69 MYR 10.62
-30.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.17 MX$38.80
$1.52 MYR 6.02
42.76%
Potato (1kg)
$1.88 MX$33.70
$1.22 MYR 4.81
54.10%
Onion (1kg)
$2.25 MX$40.21
$1.36 MYR 5.36
65.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$19.11
$1.16 MYR 4.59
-7.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$19.22
$0.63 MYR 2.50
69.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15 MX$74.4
$4.24 MYR 16.73
-2.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.34 MX$185
$18.75 MYR 74.1
-44.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$30.06
$3.26 MYR 12.86
-48.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 MX$44.46
$4.40 MYR 17.38
-43.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Batu Kawan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$9.93
$0.72 MYR 2.84
-23.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.53 MX$475
$11.83 MYR 46.73
124.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.22 MX$57.6
$0.69 MYR 2.73
366.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.48 MX$44.42
$1.09 MYR 4.31
127.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 MX$55.7
$4.80 MYR 18.97
-35.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 MX$22.48
$0.51 MYR 2.01
147.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K MX$548.8K
$30.7K MYR 121.2K
-0.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K MX$430.3K
$32.5K MYR 128.5K
-26.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Batu Kawan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 MX$1,476
$65.5 MYR 259
25.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29 MX$399
$11.70 MYR 46.23
90.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.02 MX$537
$22.77 MYR 89.9
31.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Batu Kawan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.4 MX$921
$37.29 MYR 147
37.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.29 MX$327
$5.92 MYR 23.38
208.95%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98 MX$89.2
$3.55 MYR 14.04
40.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Batu Kawan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$200 MX$3,580
$262 MYR 1,034
-23.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,304 MX$94.9K
$9,586 MYR 37.9K
-44.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Batu Kawan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.71 MX$639
$61.8 MYR 244
-42.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.56 MX$708
$37.09 MYR 147
6.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.6 MX$1,442
$85.2 MYR 337
-5.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.3 MX$1,581
$79.0 MYR 312
11.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Batu Kawan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$969 MX$17.4K
$384 MYR 1,517
152.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 MX$8,632
$273 MYR 1,076
76.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,595 MX$28.6K
$641 MYR 2,533
148.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,184 MX$21.2K
$471 MYR 1,862
151.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,050 MX$72.5K
$1,756 MYR 6,935
130.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,522 MX$116.7K
$883 MYR 3,487
638.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Batu Kawan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$756 MX$13.5K
$1,904 MYR 7,521
-60.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
4
185.50%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: March 3, 2026

Last update for Batu Kawan: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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