Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulu Tiram and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulu Tiram and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $939 per month in Ulu Tiram vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,364 per month in Ulu Tiram vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,789 per month in Ulu Tiram vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Ulu Tiram is about 26% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ulu Tiram and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Ulu Tiram 31% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.74 MYR 15.32

$11.60 MX$199

-67.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.40 MYR 87.6

$47.11 MX$809

-54.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.90 MYR 20.06

$11.88 MX$204

-58.75%

Cappuccino

$2.97 MYR 12.17

$3.98 MX$68.2

-25.38%

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

$0.78 MYR 3.18

$1.43 MX$24.49

-45.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.84

$0.82 MX$14.16

-45.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.55 MYR 18.62

$3.19 MX$54.7

42.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.29 MYR 25.75

$6.79 MX$117

-7.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MYR 6.97

$1.68 MX$28.76

1.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MYR 4.22

$2.20 MX$37.71

-53.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 MYR 5.88

$1.71 MX$29.32

-15.79%

Eggs

$1.75 MYR 7.16

$2.74 MX$47.05

-36.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.70 MYR 39.69

$9.58 MX$164

1.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.22 MYR 17.25

$9.01 MX$155

-53.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.63 MYR 39.40

$12.81 MX$220

-24.82%

Apples (1kg)

$3.34 MYR 13.67

$2.89 MX$49.58

15.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 MYR 7.15

$1.50 MX$25.70

16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.66 MYR 10.88

$2.15 MX$36.87

23.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 MYR 6.62

$2.26 MX$38.79

-28.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.98

$1.98 MX$34.00

-26.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.68 MYR 6.89

$1.99 MX$34.15

-15.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.38 MYR 5.65

$1.23 MX$21.18

12.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.26

$1.20 MX$20.54

-54.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 MYR 17.81

$4.55 MX$78.1

-4.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.96 MYR 69.4

$10.37 MX$178

63.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.97 MYR 12.15

$1.62 MX$27.79

83.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 MYR 12.73

$2.88 MX$49.44

7.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.81

$0.60 MX$10.30

15.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.25 MYR 50.2

$28.80 MX$494

-57.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.25 MYR 5.10

$5.39 MX$92.5

-76.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 MYR 1.46

$3.73 MX$64.0

-90.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.32 MYR 38.15

$5.77 MX$99.0

61.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 MYR 3.18

$1.54 MX$26.37

-49.35%

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

$41.2K MYR 168.6K

$22.5K MX$387.0K

82.68%

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

$35.0K MYR 143.4K

$26.1K MX$447.3K

34.42%

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

$53.0 MYR 217

$91.4 MX$1,569

-42.04%

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

$8.22 MYR 33.65

$25.20 MX$433

-67.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.97 MYR 119

$31.24 MX$536

-7.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.66 MYR 166

$67.2 MX$1,154

-39.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.89 MYR 24.10

$29.11 MX$500

-79.77%

Cinema Ticket

$4.89 MYR 20.03

$4.86 MX$83.5

0.62%

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

$166 MYR 680

$224 MX$3,839

-25.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,502 MYR 18.4K

$4,229 MX$72.6K

6.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.6 MYR 273

$47.10 MX$808

41.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.16 MYR 70.2

$44.29 MX$760

-61.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.4 MYR 317

$80.1 MX$1,375

-3.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.28 MYR 198

$92.7 MX$1,591

-47.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$395 MYR 1,617

$1,063 MX$18.2K

-62.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 MYR 1,224

$390 MX$6,698

-23.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$686 MYR 2,808

$2,149 MX$36.9K

-68.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$487 MYR 1,995

$1,272 MX$21.8K

-61.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,014 MYR 8,244

$4,001 MX$68.7K

-49.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,143 MYR 4,678

$6,502 MX$111.6K

-82.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$853 MYR 3,491

$758 MX$13.0K

12.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.06

11.45

-64.54%

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

Last update for Ulu Tiram: September 15, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $395 in Ulu Tiram versus $1,063 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 12% higher in Ulu Tiram, 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 $21.00 in Ulu Tiram versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $276 – making Ulu Tiram 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 35%, 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 $1,408 per month in Ulu Tiram and $1,899 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 Ulu Tiram, 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 $939 in Ulu Tiram and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 135% less in Ulu Tiram. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ulu Tiram, where all-in costs run around $939, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Ulu Tiram it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ulu Tiram – 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 Ulu Tiram. 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.