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 $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $936 in Kampar, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,366 in Kampar, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,362 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,797 in Kampar, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 39% more than Kampar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Kampar are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Kampar 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96 MX$203
$2.22 MYR 9.01
438.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.38 MX$804
$19.63 MYR 79.9
141.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.75 MX$199
$4.89 MYR 19.89
140.29%
Cappuccino
$4.12 MX$70.0
$2.55 MYR 10.37
61.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 MX$23.74
$0.52 MYR 2.10
169.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 MX$15.48
$0.50 MYR 2.03
82.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 MX$54.4
$2.20 MYR 8.96
45.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07 MX$120
$6.21 MYR 25.27
13.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.44
$1.93 MYR 7.83
-12.95%
White Bread (500g)
$2.15 MX$36.48
$0.77 MYR 3.14
179.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 MX$30.10
$2.00 MYR 8.12
-11.50%
Eggs
$2.82 MX$47.76
$1.75 MYR 7.12
61.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.20 MX$156
$14.93 MYR 60.7
-38.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.23 MX$157
$4.88 MYR 19.85
89.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.64 MX$214
$7.28 MYR 29.60
73.63%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 MX$50.1
$3.39 MYR 13.78
-12.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 MX$26.79
$1.86 MYR 7.58
-15.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 MX$37.70
$2.36 MYR 9.59
-5.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.36 MX$40.09
$1.60 MYR 6.50
47.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 MX$33.81
$1.39 MYR 5.64
43.17%
Onion (1kg)
$1.98 MX$33.58
$1.38 MYR 5.62
43.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 MX$21.04
$1.16 MYR 4.70
6.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 MX$20.55
$0.75 MYR 3.05
61.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60 MX$78.1
$4.41 MYR 17.93
4.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.52 MX$178
$19.40 MYR 78.9
-45.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 MX$28.70
$3.55 MYR 14.45
-52.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 MX$47.06
$4.90 MYR 19.93
-43.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.22
$0.71 MYR 2.90
-15.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.70 MX$504
$12.56 MYR 51.1
136.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.24 MX$88.8
$1.22 MYR 4.97
329.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.65 MX$61.9
$0.50 MYR 2.05
630.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.78 MX$98.1
$5.03 MYR 20.45
14.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.09
$0.65 MYR 2.63
136.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K MX$386.8K
$42.1K MYR 171.5K
-45.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K MX$437.9K
$34.9K MYR 142.1K
-26.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.7 MX$1,538
$49.06 MYR 200
84.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19 MX$427
$4.85 MYR 19.71
419.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75 MX$539
$22.39 MYR 91.1
41.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.8 MX$1,167
$41.31 MYR 168
66.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37 MX$498
$6.74 MYR 27.42
335.76%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$82.5
$4.92 MYR 20.02
-1.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$226 MX$3,828
$123 MYR 500
83.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,194 MX$71.1K
$4,938 MYR 20.1K
-15.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38 MX$804
$62.4 MYR 254
-24.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45 MX$737
$12.17 MYR 49.50
257.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.2 MX$1,361
$74.1 MYR 301
8.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4 MX$1,550
$74.6 MYR 304
22.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,086 MX$18.4K
$436 MYR 1,774
148.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$409 MX$6,933
$330 MYR 1,343
23.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,972 MX$33.5K
$713 MYR 2,900
176.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,281 MX$21.7K
$497 MYR 2,021
157.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,046 MX$68.6K
$2,052 MYR 8,347
97.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,704 MX$113.7K
$1,154 MYR 4,693
481.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$773 MX$13.1K
$370 MYR 1,507
108.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
4.2
172.62%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Last update for Kampar: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $436 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 109% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $20.00 in Kampar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $278 vs $265 – making Kampar the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 39%, 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 $1,958 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,403 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 $1,305 in Playa del Carmen and $936 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 136% 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 $936, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. 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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