😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $935 in Lumut, Perak.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,414 in Lumut, Perak.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,894 in Lumut, Perak.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 38% more expensive than Lumut, Perak, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen4% lower, Lumut, Perak30% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Lumut, Perak
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$3.53MYR 13.94
238.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$11.90MYR 47.02
259.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$4.79MYR 18.91
121.09%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$2.77MYR 10.94
30.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$0.84MYR 3.34
75.00%
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
$3.67MYR 14.49
-15.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$5.79MYR 22.88
-22.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Lumut, Perak
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.98MYR 7.81
-27.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$1.05MYR 4.13
79.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$1.67MYR 6.59
-2.40%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$2.16MYR 8.54
22.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$14.34MYR 56.7
-42.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$4.56MYR 17.99
81.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$9.73MYR 38.44
14.08%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$2.89MYR 11.43
-8.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$1.63MYR 6.43
-7.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$2.72MYR 10.76
-26.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$1.50MYR 5.93
38.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$1.23MYR 4.84
45.53%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$1.38MYR 5.46
57.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$1.17MYR 4.64
-7.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.66MYR 2.62
57.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$4.18MYR 16.52
-5.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$18.72MYR 73.9
-45.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$3.22MYR 12.71
-46.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$4.42MYR 17.45
-43.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Lumut, Perak
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$0.74MYR 2.92
-29.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
$11.95MYR 47.21
125.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$1.16MYR 4.60
170.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$1.14MYR 4.50
110.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$4.78MYR 18.86
-35.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$0.51MYR 2.03
149.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$39.5KMYR 156.2K
-21.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$32.1KMYR 126.7K
-27.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Lumut, Perak
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$63.3MYR 250
29.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$11.35MYR 44.82
97.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$25.66MYR 101
15.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Lumut, Perak
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$36.52MYR 144
42.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$5.97MYR 23.57
212.73%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$5.24MYR 20.71
-5.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Lumut, Perak
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$269MYR 1,061
-26.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$9,562MYR 37.8K
-44.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Lumut, Perak
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$61.5MYR 243
-40.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$37.26MYR 147
7.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$86.2MYR 340
-7.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$81.2MYR 321
9.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Lumut, Perak
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$394MYR 1,556
144.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$268MYR 1,060
73.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$635MYR 2,510
151.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$462MYR 1,827
161.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$1,902MYR 7,515
107.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$931MYR 3,679
592.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Lumut, Perak
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$394MYR 1,556
82.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4.47
155.48%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para Lumut, Perak: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $394 in Lumut, Perak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 83% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $12.00 in Lumut, Perak. Groceries flip the comparison at $251 vs $265, with Playa del Carmen cheaper for home cooking.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Playa del Carmen vs Lumut, Perak: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Lumut, Perak?
Lumut, Perak wins on cost – living expenses run 38% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lumut, Perak the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or Lumut, Perak?
Playa del Carmen pays 83% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen vs Lumut, Perak?
Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $394 in Lumut, Perak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen vs Lumut, Perak?
Dining out is cheaper in Lumut, Perak – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Lumut, Perak?
All in, you'll spend $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $935 in Lumut, Perak – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or Lumut, Perak?
At $935 in Lumut, Perak versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Lumut, Perak but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Lumut, Perak the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Lumut, Perak?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lumut, Perak delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $935 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lumut, Perak hard to pass up.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Lumut, Perak?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Lumut, Perak are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lumut, Perak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado