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 $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $846 in Kampar, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,274 in Kampar, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,702 in Kampar, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 53% more than Kampar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Kampar are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Kampar 37% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$2.09 MYR 8.30
461.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$720
$18.93 MYR 75.1
119.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$4.66 MYR 18.47
128.33%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$60.9
$2.40 MYR 9.51
46.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.12
$0.48 MYR 1.90
214.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.84
$0.49 MYR 1.94
97.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.0
$2.07 MYR 8.22
42.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.0
$5.75 MYR 22.81
-22.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.93
$1.95 MYR 7.72
-29.23%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.72
$0.68 MYR 2.70
177.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.32
$1.72 MYR 6.82
-4.65%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.34
$1.68 MYR 6.65
49.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$13.86 MYR 55.0
-39.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$4.59 MYR 18.18
81.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
$6.95 MYR 27.57
54.39%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.04
$2.99 MYR 11.86
-13.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.20
$1.62 MYR 6.41
-9.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.87
$2.72 MYR 10.80
-30.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.91
$1.45 MYR 5.76
43.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.71
$1.23 MYR 4.86
44.72%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.80
$1.39 MYR 5.53
57.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$17.99
$1.22 MYR 4.84
-14.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.62
$0.68 MYR 2.70
58.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.6
$4.27 MYR 16.93
-4.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$178
$19.48 MYR 77.2
-47.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.61
$3.27 MYR 12.95
-47.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.54
$4.40 MYR 17.44
-41.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.81
$0.68 MYR 2.68
-25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$458
$11.97 MYR 47.48
121.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.4
$1.21 MYR 4.79
169.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.09
$0.98 MYR 3.90
154.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.2
$4.76 MYR 18.89
-31.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.61
$0.51 MYR 2.02
156.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$523.7K
$40.1K MYR 158.8K
-24.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$405.3K
$32.5K MYR 128.7K
-27.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,433
$47.80 MYR 190
73.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$384
$4.59 MYR 18.20
384.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$507
$21.24 MYR 84.2
38.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$893
$36.38 MYR 144
41.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
$5.80 MYR 23.02
215.86%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.6
$4.69 MYR 18.59
8.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,473
$118 MYR 466
70.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.1K
$9,385 MYR 37.2K
-44.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$639
$59.1 MYR 234
-37.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$688
$11.93 MYR 47.32
233.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,357
$69.8 MYR 277
12.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,506
$71.7 MYR 284
21.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.8K
$390 MYR 1,545
149.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,090
$266 MYR 1,057
75.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$643 MYR 2,548
155.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.1K
$469 MYR 1,859
160.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.3K
$2,229 MYR 8,836
77.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.4K
$1,092 MYR 4,331
494.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
$377 MYR 1,494
76.15%
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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Kampar: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $390 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 76% 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 53%, 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 $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,268 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 vs Kampar?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $846 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 121% less in Kampar. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Kampar?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kampar, where all-in costs run around $846, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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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