😐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 Carmen3% lower, Kampar37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$2.09MYR 8.30
461.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$720
$18.93MYR 75.1
119.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$4.66MYR 18.47
128.33%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.9
$2.40MYR 9.51
46.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.12
$0.48MYR 1.90
214.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.84
$0.49MYR 1.94
97.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$2.07MYR 8.22
42.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$5.75MYR 22.81
-22.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.93
$1.95MYR 7.72
-29.23%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.72
$0.68MYR 2.70
177.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.32
$1.72MYR 6.82
-4.65%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.34
$1.68MYR 6.65
49.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$13.86MYR 55.0
-39.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$4.59MYR 18.18
81.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$6.95MYR 27.57
54.39%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.04
$2.99MYR 11.86
-13.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.20
$1.62MYR 6.41
-9.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.87
$2.72MYR 10.80
-30.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.91
$1.45MYR 5.76
43.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.71
$1.23MYR 4.86
44.72%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.80
$1.39MYR 5.53
57.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.99
$1.22MYR 4.84
-14.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.62
$0.68MYR 2.70
58.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.6
$4.27MYR 16.93
-4.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$19.48MYR 77.2
-47.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.61
$3.27MYR 12.95
-47.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.54
$4.40MYR 17.44
-41.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$0.68MYR 2.68
-25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$458
$11.97MYR 47.48
121.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$1.21MYR 4.79
169.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.09
$0.98MYR 3.90
154.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.2
$4.76MYR 18.89
-31.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.61
$0.51MYR 2.02
156.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.7K
$40.1KMYR 158.8K
-24.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$405.3K
$32.5KMYR 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)
$82.9MX$1,433
$47.80MYR 190
73.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$4.59MYR 18.20
384.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$21.24MYR 84.2
38.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$893
$36.38MYR 144
41.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
$5.80MYR 23.02
215.86%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.6
$4.69MYR 18.59
8.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,473
$118MYR 466
70.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$9,385MYR 37.2K
-44.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$639
$59.1MYR 234
-37.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$11.93MYR 47.32
233.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,357
$69.8MYR 277
12.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,506
$71.7MYR 284
21.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$390MYR 1,545
149.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,090
$266MYR 1,057
75.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$643MYR 2,548
155.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$469MYR 1,859
160.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.3K
$2,229MYR 8,836
77.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.4K
$1,092MYR 4,331
494.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
$377MYR 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared