Cost of Living Comparison Between Selangor and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Selangor and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $999 per month in Selangor vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,432 per month in Selangor vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,865 per month in Selangor vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Selangor is about 20% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Selangor and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Selangor 25% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.55 MYR 10.42

$11.99 MX$210

-78.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.88 MYR 97.7

$41.78 MX$733

-42.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.73 MYR 15.26

$10.75 MX$189

-65.30%

Cappuccino

$2.30 MYR 9.40

$3.50 MX$61.3

-34.29%

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

$0.77 MYR 3.17

$1.45 MX$25.41

-46.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.48

$0.88 MX$15.52

-59.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.22 MYR 17.27

$2.95 MX$51.7

43.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.38 MYR 22.00

$4.51 MX$79.1

19.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 MYR 7.39

$1.43 MX$25.12

26.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 MYR 4.15

$1.84 MX$32.23

-45.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 MYR 6.12

$1.57 MX$27.51

-4.46%

Eggs

$1.88 MYR 7.70

$2.51 MX$44.06

-25.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 MYR 58.8

$8.28 MX$145

73.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.68 MYR 19.14

$8.43 MX$148

-44.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.88 MYR 40.41

$10.68 MX$187

-7.49%

Apples (1kg)

$3.00 MYR 12.27

$2.61 MX$45.76

14.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 MYR 6.40

$1.44 MX$25.22

8.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.73 MYR 11.18

$1.96 MX$34.41

39.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.94

$2.09 MX$36.74

-30.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 MYR 5.22

$1.85 MX$32.47

-30.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 MYR 4.11

$2.17 MX$38.02

-53.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 MYR 4.63

$1.03 MX$18.09

9.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 MYR 2.10

$1.07 MX$18.84

-52.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 MYR 17.71

$4.10 MX$72.0

5.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.24 MYR 78.7

$10.17 MX$178

89.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.35 MYR 13.68

$1.68 MX$29.38

99.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 MYR 17.41

$2.53 MX$44.31

68.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.80

$0.51 MX$8.93

33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.85 MYR 48.46

$26.04 MX$457

-54.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 MYR 4.75

$3.23 MX$56.7

-64.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 MYR 4.51

$2.41 MX$42.19

-54.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.35 MYR 17.77

$3.23 MX$56.6

34.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$1.32 MX$23.17

-62.12%

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

$40.5K MYR 165.5K

$29.7K MX$520.9K

36.23%

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

$30.8K MYR 125.9K

$23.7K MX$415.0K

30.08%

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

$64.9 MYR 265

$82.0 MX$1,439

-20.89%

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

$9.99 MYR 40.88

$22.95 MX$403

-56.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.88 MYR 106

$30.11 MX$528

-14.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.38 MYR 157

$52.0 MX$912

-26.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.27 MYR 29.74

$18.53 MX$325

-60.77%

Cinema Ticket

$5.17 MYR 21.13

$4.98 MX$87.3

3.82%

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

$116 MYR 476

$197 MX$3,463

-41.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,342 MYR 17.8K

$5,336 MX$93.6K

-18.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.9 MYR 249

$35.60 MX$624

70.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.78 MYR 150

$40.33 MX$707

-8.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.9 MYR 306

$78.8 MX$1,381

-4.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 MYR 322

$88.9 MX$1,560

-11.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$449 MYR 1,838

$947 MX$16.6K

-52.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 MYR 1,437

$474 MX$8,314

-25.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$834 MYR 3,413

$1,644 MX$28.8K

-49.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$472 MYR 1,930

$1,211 MX$21.2K

-61.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,583 MYR 6,473

$4,056 MX$71.1K

-60.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$707 MYR 2,891

$6,470 MX$113.5K

-89.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,047 MYR 4,284

$654 MX$11.5K

60.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.96

11.42

-65.32%

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

Last update for Selangor: July 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $449 in Selangor versus $947 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 60% higher in Selangor, 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 $24.00 in Selangor versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $261 in Selangor vs $249 in Playa del Carmen – 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 26%, 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 $1,498 per month in Selangor and $1,884 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 Selangor, 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 $999 in Selangor and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 120% less in Selangor. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Selangor, where all-in costs run around $999, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Selangor it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Selangor – 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 Selangor. 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.