😐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 Carmen6% lower, Kampar38% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$2.08MYR 8.51
476.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
$18.68MYR 76.4
123.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$4.70MYR 19.21
128.72%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$2.37MYR 9.70
47.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$0.45MYR 1.83
222.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
$0.46MYR 1.88
91.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
$2.17MYR 8.89
35.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
$5.72MYR 23.39
-21.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.92MYR 7.85
-25.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$0.68MYR 2.80
170.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
$1.66MYR 6.81
-5.42%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$1.68MYR 6.85
49.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$13.96MYR 57.1
-40.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$4.73MYR 19.34
78.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$7.13MYR 29.14
49.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
$3.00MYR 12.26
-13.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
$1.62MYR 6.64
-11.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
$2.58MYR 10.57
-24.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
$1.52MYR 6.21
37.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
$1.21MYR 4.96
52.89%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
$1.38MYR 5.66
57.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
$1.20MYR 4.93
-14.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$0.63MYR 2.56
69.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$4.16MYR 17.00
-1.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
$19.38MYR 79.3
-47.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
$3.32MYR 13.59
-49.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
$4.31MYR 17.64
-41.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
$0.68MYR 2.76
-25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
$11.86MYR 48.53
119.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$1.20MYR 4.90
169.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
$1.02MYR 4.18
136.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
$4.67MYR 19.09
-30.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$0.47MYR 1.94
180.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
$39.9KMYR 163.2K
-25.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$33.0KMYR 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)
$82.0MX$1,428
$46.48MYR 190
76.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
$4.73MYR 19.34
385.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$21.22MYR 86.8
41.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
$36.61MYR 150
41.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
$5.92MYR 24.21
213.01%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$4.83MYR 19.76
3.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
$120MYR 491
64.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
$9,452MYR 38.7K
-43.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
$59.5MYR 243
-40.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$11.90MYR 48.69
238.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
$71.3MYR 292
10.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
$70.8MYR 289
25.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
$383MYR 1,566
147.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
$267MYR 1,094
77.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
$648MYR 2,648
153.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
$467MYR 1,909
159.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
$1,778MYR 7,274
128.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.7K
$1,292MYR 5,285
400.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
$361MYR 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared