Cost of Living Comparison Between Putra Heights and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Putra Heights and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $888 per month in Putra Heights vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,341 per month in Putra Heights vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,794 per month in Putra Heights vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Putra Heights is about 32% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Putra Heights and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Putra Heights 34% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.64 MYR 14.51

$11.73 MX$203

-68.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.10 MYR 76.2

$41.62 MX$721

-54.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.60 MYR 18.36

$10.64 MX$184

-56.77%

Cappuccino

$3.01 MYR 12.02

$3.52 MX$61.0

-14.49%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 MYR 3.32

$1.51 MX$26.17

-45.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.81

$0.97 MX$16.87

-53.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.20 MYR 16.74

$2.95 MX$51.1

42.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.81 MYR 23.18

$4.45 MX$77.2

30.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 MYR 7.20

$1.38 MX$23.97

30.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 MYR 3.91

$1.89 MX$32.78

-48.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 MYR 4.92

$1.64 MX$28.37

-25.00%

Eggs

$1.82 MYR 7.26

$2.51 MX$43.42

-27.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.43 MYR 57.6

$8.34 MX$145

73.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.75 MYR 18.94

$8.34 MX$145

-43.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.40 MYR 37.52

$10.73 MX$186

-12.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MYR 11.76

$2.60 MX$45.12

13.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 MYR 6.12

$1.46 MX$25.25

4.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.64 MYR 10.53

$1.90 MX$32.94

38.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 MYR 5.89

$2.08 MX$35.98

-28.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 MYR 4.92

$1.78 MX$30.77

-30.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.36

$2.19 MX$37.87

-38.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 MYR 4.62

$1.04 MX$18.02

11.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.10

$1.08 MX$18.66

-50.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 MYR 16.46

$4.08 MX$70.7

0.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.41 MYR 57.5

$10.32 MX$179

39.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 MYR 11.50

$1.71 MX$29.67

68.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 MYR 11.53

$2.58 MX$44.63

12.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 MYR 2.93

$0.51 MX$8.83

43.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 MYR 47.19

$26.46 MX$459

-55.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.60

$3.26 MX$56.5

-64.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 MYR 3.92

$2.49 MX$43.17

-60.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.84 MYR 19.30

$3.25 MX$56.3

48.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 1.96

$1.31 MX$22.65

-62.60%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.6K MYR 142.0K

$30.3K MX$524.7K

17.55%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.4K MYR 129.4K

$23.4K MX$406.0K

38.40%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$63.4 MYR 253

$82.9 MX$1,436

-23.49%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.10 MYR 36.31

$22.22 MX$385

-59.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.15 MYR 100

$29.34 MX$508

-14.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.34 MYR 145

$51.6 MX$895

-29.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.75 MYR 22.94

$18.32 MX$317

-68.61%

Cinema Ticket

$5.26 MYR 20.98

$5.07 MX$87.8

3.75%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$191 MYR 763

$201 MX$3,480

-4.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,843 MYR 27.3K

$5,212 MX$90.3K

31.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.2 MYR 240

$36.92 MX$640

63.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.06 MYR 76.1

$39.79 MX$689

-52.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.0 MYR 295

$78.5 MX$1,360

-5.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.20 MYR 160

$87.1 MX$1,509

-53.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 MYR 1,525

$973 MX$16.9K

-60.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 MYR 1,061

$468 MX$8,105

-43.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$638 MYR 2,547

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-61.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$467 MYR 1,862

$1,221 MX$21.2K

-61.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,696 MYR 6,766

$3,946 MX$68.4K

-57.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$880 MYR 3,513

$6,498 MX$112.6K

-86.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,141 MYR 4,552

$664 MX$11.5K

71.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

11.42

-64.36%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Putra Heights: June 2, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $382 in Putra Heights versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 72% higher in Putra Heights, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Putra Heights versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $249 – making Putra Heights 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

Putra Heights vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 46%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,331 per month in Putra Heights and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Putra Heights, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $888 in Putra Heights and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 124% less in Putra Heights. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Putra Heights, where all-in costs run around $888, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Putra Heights it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Putra Heights – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Putra Heights. 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.