😐A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $954 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,396 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,838 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 33% 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 Carmen7% lower, Kangar, Perlis30% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$3.79MYR 15.48
206.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$812
$20.49MYR 83.6
129.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$4.85MYR 19.80
144.95%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.6
$2.68MYR 10.95
48.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.60
$0.71MYR 2.90
101.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.22
$0.40MYR 1.62
105.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$55.0
$4.15MYR 16.95
-23.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$4.76MYR 19.44
42.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.89
$1.84MYR 7.53
-8.70%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.88
$1.10MYR 4.50
100.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.45
$1.55MYR 6.35
10.32%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.26
$1.99MYR 8.13
37.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$12.28MYR 50.1
-21.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$4.39MYR 17.90
105.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$9.77MYR 39.90
31.12%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.81
$3.30MYR 13.45
-12.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.81
$1.71MYR 7.00
-12.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.03
$2.67MYR 10.88
-19.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.96
$1.84MYR 7.50
22.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.15
$1.10MYR 4.49
80.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.30
$1.23MYR 5.03
61.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.28
$1.01MYR 4.12
21.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.63
$0.49MYR 2.01
144.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.5
$4.85MYR 19.78
-6.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$20.05MYR 81.8
-48.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.91
$2.98MYR 12.18
-45.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.67
$4.03MYR 16.43
-28.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.35
$0.74MYR 3.00
-18.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$497
$11.21MYR 45.76
156.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.9
$1.05MYR 4.30
413.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.3
$0.48MYR 1.94
677.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.5
$7.86MYR 32.10
-26.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.48
$0.84MYR 3.44
83.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.8K
$47.0KMYR 192.0K
-52.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$449.3K
$34.1KMYR 139.4K
-23.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,576
$44.65MYR 182
104.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$435
$9.56MYR 39.02
163.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$539
$25.71MYR 105
21.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,159
$46.17MYR 188
45.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$502
$7.45MYR 30.39
290.74%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.8
$5.18MYR 21.14
-6.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,856
$192MYR 785
16.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.9K
$5,435MYR 22.2K
-22.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$812
$65.0MYR 265
-27.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$764
$30.04MYR 123
47.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,381
$88.6MYR 362
-9.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,598
$65.2MYR 266
42.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$421MYR 1,720
152.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,728
$330MYR 1,348
18.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.1K
$584MYR 2,383
268.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
$494MYR 2,018
157.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$69.0K
$1,783MYR 7,281
124.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.1K
$1,067MYR 4,357
509.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
-
-
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 12, 2026
Last update for Kangar, Perlis: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $421 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $20.00 in Kangar, Perlis. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $257 – 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: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, $954 in Kangar, Perlis – roughly 33% 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 $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,431 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen and $20.00 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 $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $954 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 $954, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. 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 $954 in Kangar, Perlis to $1,266 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