Cost of Living Comparison Between Setia Alam and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Setia Alam and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $927 per month in Setia Alam vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,385 per month in Setia Alam vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,842 per month in Setia Alam vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Setia Alam is about 29% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Setia Alam and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Setia Alam 31% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.59 MYR 18.31

$11.73 MX$203

-60.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.15 MYR 92.4

$41.62 MX$721

-44.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 MYR 19.32

$10.64 MX$184

-54.51%

Cappuccino

$3.13 MYR 12.50

$3.52 MX$61.0

-11.08%

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

$0.89 MYR 3.56

$1.51 MX$26.17

-41.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.47

$0.97 MX$16.87

-61.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.26 MYR 16.99

$2.95 MX$51.1

44.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 MYR 22.91

$4.45 MX$77.2

28.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 MYR 7.16

$1.38 MX$23.97

30.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 MYR 2.72

$1.89 MX$32.78

-64.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 MYR 3.91

$1.64 MX$28.37

-40.24%

Eggs

$1.73 MYR 6.91

$2.51 MX$43.42

-31.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.62 MYR 18.44

$8.34 MX$145

-44.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.92 MYR 15.63

$8.34 MX$145

-53.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.45 MYR 37.69

$10.73 MX$186

-11.93%

Apples (1kg)

$1.32 MYR 5.29

$2.60 MX$45.12

-49.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 MYR 6.34

$1.46 MX$25.25

8.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.29 MYR 5.14

$1.90 MX$32.94

-32.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 MYR 5.71

$2.08 MX$35.98

-31.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 MYR 4.93

$1.78 MX$30.77

-30.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 MYR 5.07

$2.19 MX$37.87

-42.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 MYR 2.42

$1.04 MX$18.02

-41.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MYR 2.24

$1.08 MX$18.66

-48.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.06 MYR 16.20

$4.08 MX$70.7

-0.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.94 MYR 79.6

$10.32 MX$179

93.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.23 MYR 12.90

$1.71 MX$29.67

88.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.27 MYR 17.05

$2.58 MX$44.63

65.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 MYR 2.89

$0.51 MX$8.83

43.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.93 MYR 47.61

$26.46 MX$459

-54.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 MYR 4.64

$3.26 MX$56.5

-64.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 MYR 4.54

$2.49 MX$43.17

-54.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.62 MYR 18.42

$3.25 MX$56.3

42.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 MYR 1.90

$1.31 MX$22.65

-63.36%

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

$39.3K MYR 156.9K

$30.3K MX$524.7K

29.83%

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

$32.2K MYR 128.6K

$23.4K MX$406.0K

37.51%

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

$58.1 MYR 232

$82.9 MX$1,436

-29.95%

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

$10.59 MYR 42.26

$22.22 MX$385

-52.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.89 MYR 103

$29.34 MX$508

-11.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.8 MYR 223

$51.6 MX$895

8.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.35 MYR 9.37

$18.32 MX$317

-87.17%

Cinema Ticket

$5.11 MYR 20.39

$5.07 MX$87.8

0.79%

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

$193 MYR 769

$201 MX$3,480

-4.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,575 MYR 38.2K

$5,212 MX$90.3K

83.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.3 MYR 245

$36.92 MX$640

66.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.70 MYR 98.6

$39.79 MX$689

-37.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 MYR 337

$78.5 MX$1,360

7.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.0 MYR 208

$87.1 MX$1,509

-40.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$496 MYR 1,979

$973 MX$16.9K

-48.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 MYR 1,233

$468 MX$8,105

-33.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$815 MYR 3,252

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-50.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$524 MYR 2,091

$1,221 MX$21.2K

-57.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,965 MYR 7,840

$3,946 MX$68.4K

-50.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$991 MYR 3,955

$6,498 MX$112.6K

-84.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,180 MYR 4,708

$664 MX$11.5K

77.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

11.42

-63.92%

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

Last update for Setia Alam: June 2, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $496 in Setia Alam 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 78% higher in Setia Alam, 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 $23.00 in Setia Alam versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $206 vs $249 – making Setia Alam 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 40%, 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 $1,390 per month in Setia Alam 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 Setia Alam, 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 $927 in Setia Alam 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 122% less in Setia Alam. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Setia Alam, where all-in costs run around $927, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Setia Alam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Setia Alam – 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 Setia Alam. 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.