😐A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $859 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,310 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,762 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 47% more than Kangar, Perlis, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Kangar, Perlis are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Kangar, Perlis35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$3.52MYR 14.36
232.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$19.01MYR 77.6
120.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$4.83MYR 19.72
117.60%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$2.77MYR 11.30
29.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$0.72MYR 2.95
109.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$0.40MYR 1.62
130.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$3.44MYR 14.06
-13.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$4.84MYR 19.75
-8.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$1.79MYR 7.29
-21.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$0.94MYR 3.86
100.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$1.29MYR 5.26
20.93%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$2.13MYR 8.68
22.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$15.14MYR 61.8
-45.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$4.29MYR 17.51
94.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$9.41MYR 38.43
15.41%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$2.89MYR 11.81
-6.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$1.45MYR 5.91
4.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$2.61MYR 10.67
-28.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$1.45MYR 5.92
51.03%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$1.18MYR 4.83
57.63%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$1.32MYR 5.40
68.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$1.04MYR 4.23
2.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$0.55MYR 2.27
98.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$4.33MYR 17.69
-3.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
$16.63MYR 67.9
-37.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$2.82MYR 11.51
-41.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
$3.01MYR 12.30
-13.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$0.70MYR 2.84
-22.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
$11.69MYR 47.73
123.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$1.16MYR 4.73
165.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
$1.02MYR 4.17
135.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$5.80MYR 23.67
-46.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$0.46MYR 1.89
184.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$35.6KMYR 145.2K
-16.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$31.8KMYR 130.0K
-26.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
$42.93MYR 175
89.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
$9.33MYR 38.10
141.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$28.91MYR 118
3.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$36.62MYR 150
44.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
$6.00MYR 24.49
206.50%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
$4.86MYR 19.86
1.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$187MYR 763
7.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$6,800MYR 27.8K
-23.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$61.5MYR 251
-41.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$27.36MYR 112
46.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$72.0MYR 294
10.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$51.3MYR 210
68.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$394MYR 1,609
148.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
$268MYR 1,096
75.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$646MYR 2,639
155.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
$469MYR 1,914
156.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
$2,332MYR 9,522
69.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
$1,271MYR 5,191
419.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4.07
180.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Last update for Kangar, Perlis: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $394 in Kangar, Perlis. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $19.00 in Kangar, Perlis. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $247 – making Kangar, Perlis 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 Kangar, Perlis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and in Kangar, Perlis compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, $859 in Kangar, Perlis – roughly 47% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Kangar, Perlis?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,288 in Kangar, Perlis. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Playa del Carmen and Kangar, Perlis?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kangar, Perlis, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $19.00 in Kangar, Perlis. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Kangar, Perlis?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $859 in Kangar, Perlis. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kangar, Perlis, where all-in costs run around $859, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Kangar, Perlis it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Kangar, Perlis?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $859 in Kangar, Perlis to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Playa del Carmen or Kangar, Perlis safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Kangar, Perlis?
If budget matters most, go with Kangar, Perlis. 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