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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $826 in Kampar, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,280 in Kampar, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,734 in Kampar, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 52% more than Kampar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Kampar are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Kampar 38% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$209
$2.08 MYR 8.51
476.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78 MX$728
$18.68 MYR 76.4
123.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.75 MX$187
$4.70 MYR 19.21
128.72%
Cappuccino
$3.50 MX$60.9
$2.37 MYR 9.70
47.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.22
$0.45 MYR 1.83
222.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 MX$15.41
$0.46 MYR 1.88
91.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.3
$2.17 MYR 8.89
35.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51 MX$78.6
$5.72 MYR 23.39
-21.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$1.92 MYR 7.85
-25.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 MX$31.99
$0.68 MYR 2.80
170.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$27.31
$1.66 MYR 6.81
-5.42%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.74
$1.68 MYR 6.85
49.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.28 MX$144
$13.96 MYR 57.1
-40.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 MX$147
$4.73 MYR 19.34
78.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.68 MX$186
$7.13 MYR 29.14
49.79%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 MX$45.43
$3.00 MYR 12.26
-13.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$25.04
$1.62 MYR 6.64
-11.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 MX$34.16
$2.58 MYR 10.57
-24.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$36.47
$1.52 MYR 6.21
37.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$32.24
$1.21 MYR 4.96
52.89%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.74
$1.38 MYR 5.66
57.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 MX$17.96
$1.20 MYR 4.93
-14.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.70
$0.63 MYR 2.56
69.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10 MX$71.4
$4.16 MYR 17.00
-1.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.17 MX$177
$19.38 MYR 79.3
-47.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$29.17
$3.32 MYR 13.59
-49.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 MX$43.98
$4.31 MYR 17.64
-41.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.87
$0.68 MYR 2.76
-25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.04 MX$453
$11.86 MYR 48.53
119.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.3
$1.20 MYR 4.90
169.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.41 MX$41.88
$1.02 MYR 4.18
136.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.2
$4.67 MYR 19.09
-30.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$23.00
$0.47 MYR 1.94
180.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K MX$517.1K
$39.9K MYR 163.2K
-25.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K MX$412.0K
$33.0K MYR 135.2K
-28.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,428
$46.48 MYR 190
76.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95 MX$400
$4.73 MYR 19.34
385.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11 MX$524
$21.22 MYR 86.8
41.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$905
$36.61 MYR 150
41.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53 MX$323
$5.92 MYR 24.21
213.01%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98 MX$86.6
$4.83 MYR 19.76
3.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,438
$120 MYR 491
64.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,336 MX$92.9K
$9,452 MYR 38.7K
-43.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60 MX$620
$59.5 MYR 243
-40.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33 MX$702
$11.90 MYR 48.69
238.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 MX$1,371
$71.3 MYR 292
10.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,549
$70.8 MYR 289
25.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$947 MX$16.5K
$383 MYR 1,566
147.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,254
$267 MYR 1,094
77.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,644 MX$28.6K
$648 MYR 2,648
153.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,211 MX$21.1K
$467 MYR 1,909
159.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,056 MX$70.6K
$1,778 MYR 7,274
128.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,470 MX$112.7K
$1,292 MYR 5,285
400.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 MX$11.4K
$361 MYR 1,477
81.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
4.47
155.48%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kampar: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $383 in Kampar. 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 81% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $19.00 in Kampar. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Playa del Carmen vs $252 in Kampar – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Playa del Carmen vs Kampar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kampar cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 52%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,239 in Kampar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kampar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Kampar?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $826 in Kampar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 120% less in Kampar. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Kampar?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kampar, where all-in costs run around $826, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Kampar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Kampar more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kampar – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Kampar?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kampar. 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.

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