😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $875 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,342 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,808 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 Carmen4% lower, Kangar, Perlis35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$3.46MYR 13.68
245.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$19.11MYR 75.5
123.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$4.73MYR 18.70
123.89%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$2.82MYR 11.13
28.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$0.73MYR 2.87
101.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.36MYR 1.43
161.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$3.45MYR 13.62
-10.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$4.89MYR 19.32
-8.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.82MYR 7.18
-21.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$0.99MYR 3.91
89.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$1.26MYR 4.96
29.37%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$2.11MYR 8.32
25.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$15.08MYR 59.6
-45.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$4.34MYR 17.13
91.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$9.46MYR 37.35
17.34%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$2.84MYR 11.21
-6.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$1.47MYR 5.82
2.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$2.51MYR 9.93
-20.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$1.43MYR 5.66
45.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$1.18MYR 4.68
51.69%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$1.29MYR 5.09
68.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$0.99MYR 3.92
9.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.55MYR 2.18
89.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$4.34MYR 17.13
-8.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$17.98MYR 71.0
-43.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$2.82MYR 11.16
-38.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$2.97MYR 11.72
-15.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$0.73MYR 2.88
-28.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
$11.58MYR 45.75
132.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$1.15MYR 4.55
173.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$0.99MYR 3.91
142.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$5.95MYR 23.49
-48.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$0.50MYR 1.96
154.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$35.4KMYR 139.7K
-12.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$31.2KMYR 123.3K
-25.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$43.03MYR 170
90.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$9.19MYR 36.31
144.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$28.86MYR 114
2.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$37.24MYR 147
39.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$5.82MYR 23.00
220.79%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$4.89MYR 19.32
1.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$186MYR 734
6.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$7,019MYR 27.7K
-24.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$60.0MYR 237
-39.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$27.64MYR 109
44.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$73.5MYR 290
8.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$50.6MYR 200
75.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$388MYR 1,533
148.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$273MYR 1,079
70.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$644MYR 2,542
148.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$462MYR 1,825
161.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$1,676MYR 6,621
135.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$950MYR 3,751
579.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
-
-
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: April 25, 2026
Last update for Kangar, Perlis: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $388 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $19.00 in Kangar, Perlis. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $250 – 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 Kangar, Perlis compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, $875 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 $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,312 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 $43.00 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 $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $875 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 $875, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. 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 $875 in Kangar, Perlis to $1,287 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