😐A single person spends $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $865 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,324 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,782 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, Perlis36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$204
$3.61MYR 14.62
228.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$736
$19.02MYR 77.1
125.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$183
$4.59MYR 18.63
132.03%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.2
$2.90MYR 11.74
18.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.81
$0.72MYR 2.91
108.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.28
$0.37MYR 1.49
156.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$51.9
$3.57MYR 14.49
-15.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.1
$5.08MYR 20.61
-9.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.61
$1.89MYR 7.67
-26.98%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.70
$1.01MYR 4.08
83.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.65
$1.28MYR 5.20
25.78%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.51
$2.07MYR 8.40
25.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$142
$15.20MYR 61.6
-45.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$144
$4.28MYR 17.35
95.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$183
$9.19MYR 37.25
16.00%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.12
$2.88MYR 11.66
-8.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.53
$1.53MYR 6.21
-2.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.94
$2.53MYR 10.25
-24.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.81
$1.43MYR 5.81
46.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$31.88
$1.19MYR 4.81
56.30%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.81
$1.28MYR 5.20
76.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.23
$1.00MYR 4.06
6.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.67
$0.56MYR 2.25
94.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.2
$4.31MYR 17.48
-3.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$178
$19.52MYR 79.2
-46.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.59
$2.83MYR 11.49
-39.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$44.85
$2.99MYR 12.12
-12.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.30
$0.69MYR 2.78
-21.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$462
$11.73MYR 47.57
129.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$53.7
$1.15MYR 4.67
172.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.09
$1.02MYR 4.14
146.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.1
$6.04MYR 24.48
-47.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$21.88
$0.49MYR 1.99
159.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$521.3K
$34.9KMYR 141.7K
-13.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$404.5K
$30.9KMYR 125.2K
-23.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,425
$44.11MYR 179
88.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$390
$9.05MYR 36.71
150.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$506
$29.34MYR 119
0.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$875
$36.25MYR 147
40.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$315
$5.96MYR 24.17
207.55%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$84.5
$4.89MYR 19.84
0.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,386
$186MYR 754
6.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$90.6K
$6,789MYR 27.5K
-22.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$633
$61.8MYR 250
-40.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$685
$27.17MYR 110
46.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,373
$73.0MYR 296
9.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,536
$49.96MYR 203
79.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.4K
$383MYR 1,552
149.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,189
$275MYR 1,113
73.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.3K
$657MYR 2,664
150.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.0K
$473MYR 1,916
159.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.2K
$2,212MYR 8,968
77.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$110.9K
$919MYR 3,728
602.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.4K
-
-
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Kangar, Perlis: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $383 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. Groceries tell a different story – $250 in Playa del Carmen vs $254 in Kangar, Perlis – 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 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: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, $865 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 $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,298 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 $1,271 in Playa del Carmen and $865 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 $865, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. 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 $865 in Kangar, Perlis to $1,271 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