Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Malaysia
For one person, living is cheaper in Malaysia: $908 a month against $1,215 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $3,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
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Playa del Carmen Living Index60Cost of Living Index in Playa del CarmenLearn more -
Malaysia Living Index44Cost of Living Index in MalaysiaLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: Playa del Carmen is 49.5% more expensive than Malaysia without rent, and 33.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Playa del Carmen is 45.3% more expensive than Malaysia without rent, and 67.8% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Malaysia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.97 MX$201
$3.68 MYR 15.03
198.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.85 MX$823
$19.24 MYR 78.5
133.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.92 MX$219
$4.82 MYR 19.69
147.30%
Cappuccino
$3.80 MX$69.9
$2.87 MYR 11.70
32.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 MX$24.08
$0.81 MYR 3.30
61.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 MX$15.72
$0.41 MYR 1.67
109.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 MX$59.0
$3.75 MYR 15.32
-14.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.01 MX$92.0
$4.76 MYR 19.45
5.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Malaysia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 MX$26.77
$1.90 MYR 7.74
-23.16%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 MX$42.72
$1.06 MYR 4.32
119.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.44 MX$26.48
$1.48 MYR 6.05
-2.70%
Eggs
$2.46 MX$45.20
$2.16 MYR 8.83
13.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.70 MX$141
$13.27 MYR 54.2
-41.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.89 MX$145
$4.07 MYR 16.60
93.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.80 MX$235
$8.71 MYR 35.56
46.96%
Apples (1kg)
$2.92 MX$53.6
$3.04 MYR 12.40
-3.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.11
$1.66 MYR 6.80
-14.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.57 MX$47.10
$2.59 MYR 10.59
-0.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.14 MX$39.24
$1.58 MYR 6.46
35.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.95 MX$35.75
$1.22 MYR 4.99
59.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 MX$35.55
$1.28 MYR 5.23
51.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.13
$1.17 MYR 4.77
-1.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 MX$22.42
$0.56 MYR 2.27
117.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38 MX$80.3
$4.51 MYR 18.41
-2.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.85 MX$181
$19.23 MYR 78.5
-48.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 MX$28.23
$2.97 MYR 12.13
-48.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 MX$49.86
$4.04 MYR 16.51
-32.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Malaysia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.64
$0.72 MYR 2.94
-27.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.42 MX$503
$12.43 MYR 50.8
120.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.91 MX$90.2
$1.19 MYR 4.86
312.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.52 MX$64.7
$0.95 MYR 3.88
270.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.69 MX$104
$6.10 MYR 24.92
-6.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$28.27
$0.66 MYR 2.69
133.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$389.9K
$41.1K MYR 167.7K
-48.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K MX$449.6K
$34.5K MYR 141.0K
-29.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Malaysia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.6 MX$1,535
$55.4 MYR 226
51.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.03 MX$441
$10.14 MYR 41.40
136.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.33 MX$539
$27.39 MYR 112
7.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Malaysia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.9 MX$1,191
$37.46 MYR 153
73.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.46 MX$541
$7.20 MYR 29.39
309.17%
Cinema Ticket
$5.09 MX$93.4
$5.01 MYR 20.44
1.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Malaysia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$208 MX$3,813
$191 MYR 778
8.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,045 MX$74.3K
$8,217 MYR 33.5K
-50.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Malaysia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.55 MX$818
$63.2 MYR 258
-29.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 MX$772
$33.41 MYR 136
25.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.5 MX$1,387
$80.0 MYR 327
-5.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4 MX$1,678
$71.9 MYR 294
27.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Malaysia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$986 MX$18.1K
$401 MYR 1,636
146.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$385 MX$7,072
$272 MYR 1,112
41.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,713 MX$31.5K
$705 MYR 2,880
142.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,108 MX$20.4K
$467 MYR 1,909
137.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,016 MX$73.7K
$2,042 MYR 8,337
96.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,247 MX$114.7K
$1,181 MYR 4,822
429.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Malaysia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$758 MX$13.9K
$917 MYR 3,745
-17.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
4.23
170.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 4, 2026
Last update for Malaysia: October 4, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen $385 31.4%
Malaysia $272 29.9% 29.3% $113
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen $260 21.2%
Malaysia $253 27.8% 2.9% $7.5
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen $204 16.6%
Malaysia $111 12.3% 45.3% $92
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen $137 11.2%
Malaysia $93 10.2% 32.2% $44
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen $114 9.3%
Malaysia $112 12.3% 2% $2.2
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen $75 6.1%
Malaysia $47 5.2% 36.7% $28
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen $52 4.2%
Malaysia $21 2.3% 59.2% $31
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen $1.1K 36.5%
Malaysia $467 25.5% 57.8% $641
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen $602 19.8%
Malaysia $559 30.5% 7.2% $43
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen $631 20.8%
Malaysia $312 17% 50.6% $320
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen $161 5.3%
Malaysia $103 5.6% 36% $58
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen $254 8.3%
Malaysia $249 13.5% 2% $5
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen $180 5.9%
Malaysia $102 5.6% 43.1% $77
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen $105 3.5%
Malaysia $44 2.4% 58.2% $61
Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇲🇾 Malaysia
Weather
Population
149,923
32,447,385
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Playa del Carmen Malaysia 17,200 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
- Playa del Carmen
- Malaysia
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 other spots: cost of living compared
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,215
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,561
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,215
/mo nomad
Bucharest
🇷🇴 Romania
$1,351
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,215
/mo nomad
Krakow
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,811
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,215
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,203
/mo nomad
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