😐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 Carmen5% lower, Kampar32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96MX$203
$2.22MYR 9.01
438.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.38MX$804
$19.63MYR 79.9
141.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.75MX$199
$4.89MYR 19.89
140.29%
Cappuccino
$4.12MX$70.0
$2.55MYR 10.37
61.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.74
$0.52MYR 2.10
169.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.48
$0.50MYR 2.03
82.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21MX$54.4
$2.20MYR 8.96
45.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07MX$120
$6.21MYR 25.27
13.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.44
$1.93MYR 7.83
-12.95%
White Bread(500g)
$2.15MX$36.48
$0.77MYR 3.14
179.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$30.10
$2.00MYR 8.12
-11.50%
Eggs
$2.82MX$47.76
$1.75MYR 7.12
61.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20MX$156
$14.93MYR 60.7
-38.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.23MX$157
$4.88MYR 19.85
89.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.64MX$214
$7.28MYR 29.60
73.63%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$50.1
$3.39MYR 13.78
-12.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58MX$26.79
$1.86MYR 7.58
-15.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22MX$37.70
$2.36MYR 9.59
-5.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.09
$1.60MYR 6.50
47.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.81
$1.39MYR 5.64
43.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98MX$33.58
$1.38MYR 5.62
43.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$21.04
$1.16MYR 4.70
6.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21MX$20.55
$0.75MYR 3.05
61.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60MX$78.1
$4.41MYR 17.93
4.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.52MX$178
$19.40MYR 78.9
-45.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69MX$28.70
$3.55MYR 14.45
-52.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77MX$47.06
$4.90MYR 19.93
-43.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.22
$0.71MYR 2.90
-15.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.70MX$504
$12.56MYR 51.1
136.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.24MX$88.8
$1.22MYR 4.97
329.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.65MX$61.9
$0.50MYR 2.05
630.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$98.1
$5.03MYR 20.45
14.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.09
$0.65MYR 2.63
136.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$386.8K
$42.1KMYR 171.5K
-45.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KMX$437.9K
$34.9KMYR 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)
$90.7MX$1,538
$49.06MYR 200
84.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19MX$427
$4.85MYR 19.71
419.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75MX$539
$22.39MYR 91.1
41.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,167
$41.31MYR 168
66.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37MX$498
$6.74MYR 27.42
335.76%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$82.5
$4.92MYR 20.02
-1.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$226MX$3,828
$123MYR 500
83.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,194MX$71.1K
$4,938MYR 20.1K
-15.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38MX$804
$62.4MYR 254
-24.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45MX$737
$12.17MYR 49.50
257.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.2MX$1,361
$74.1MYR 301
8.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4MX$1,550
$74.6MYR 304
22.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,086MX$18.4K
$436MYR 1,774
148.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$409MX$6,933
$330MYR 1,343
23.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,972MX$33.5K
$713MYR 2,900
176.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,281MX$21.7K
$497MYR 2,021
157.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,046MX$68.6K
$2,052MYR 8,347
97.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,704MX$113.7K
$1,154MYR 4,693
481.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kampar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$773MX$13.1K
$370MYR 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared