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 $842 per month in Ulu Tiram vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,284 per month in Ulu Tiram vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,725 per month in Ulu Tiram vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Ulu Tiram is about 33% 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 37% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.60 MYR 14.21

$11.67 MX$202

-69.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.82 MYR 74.4

$41.88 MX$726

-55.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.59 MYR 18.13

$10.40 MX$180

-55.87%

Cappuccino

$2.72 MYR 10.73

$3.61 MX$62.6

-24.65%

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

$0.68 MYR 2.69

$1.47 MX$25.45

-53.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.44

$0.91 MX$15.80

-60.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.37 MYR 17.24

$3.03 MX$52.6

44.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.77 MYR 26.72

$4.47 MX$77.4

51.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MYR 7.31

$1.38 MX$23.83

34.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 MYR 3.94

$1.84 MX$31.93

-45.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 MYR 5.09

$1.61 MX$27.82

-19.88%

Eggs

$1.82 MYR 7.18

$2.57 MX$44.52

-29.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.80 MYR 42.66

$8.49 MX$147

27.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.07 MYR 16.08

$8.49 MX$147

-52.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.90 MYR 31.19

$10.99 MX$190

-28.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 MYR 10.94

$2.73 MX$47.25

1.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 MYR 5.81

$1.50 MX$25.92

-2.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.56 MYR 10.12

$1.96 MX$33.93

30.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 4.78

$2.12 MX$36.70

-42.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.65

$1.86 MX$32.30

-36.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.39 MYR 5.49

$2.17 MX$37.67

-35.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 MYR 3.46

$1.07 MX$18.59

-17.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 MYR 2.50

$1.05 MX$18.18

-40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.18 MYR 16.52

$4.19 MX$72.6

-0.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.47 MYR 69.0

$10.28 MX$178

69.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 MYR 11.38

$1.67 MX$28.87

72.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 MYR 11.87

$2.49 MX$43.12

20.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.67

$0.54 MX$9.37

25.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.92 MYR 47.08

$26.27 MX$455

-54.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.99 MYR 3.91

$3.10 MX$53.8

-68.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 MYR 4.08

$2.46 MX$42.66

-58.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.48 MYR 37.46

$3.24 MX$56.1

192.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 1.97

$1.26 MX$21.83

-60.32%

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

$34.9K MYR 137.8K

$30.2K MX$522.8K

15.63%

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

$33.4K MYR 132.1K

$23.4K MX$406.3K

42.60%

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

$45.05 MYR 178

$84.0 MX$1,456

-46.36%

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

$9.33 MYR 36.84

$22.21 MX$385

-57.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.41 MYR 120

$29.65 MX$514

2.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.32 MYR 143

$52.6 MX$912

-31.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.06 MYR 23.95

$18.34 MX$318

-66.96%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MYR 20.04

$4.95 MX$85.7

2.42%

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

$189 MYR 745

$198 MX$3,438

-4.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,784 MYR 26.8K

$5,322 MX$92.2K

27.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.7 MYR 256

$35.95 MX$623

79.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.50 MYR 73.1

$40.06 MX$694

-53.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.6 MYR 275

$78.8 MX$1,365

-11.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.81 MYR 189

$86.5 MX$1,499

-44.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$383 MYR 1,514

$977 MX$16.9K

-60.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$271 MYR 1,070

$471 MX$8,158

-42.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$644 MYR 2,543

$1,595 MX$27.6K

-59.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MYR 1,849

$1,215 MX$21.1K

-61.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,744 MYR 6,888

$4,032 MX$69.9K

-56.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$874 MYR 3,452

$6,579 MX$114.0K

-86.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$870 MYR 3,438

$714 MX$12.4K

21.87%

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 Ulu Tiram: April 21, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $383 in Ulu Tiram versus $977 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 22% 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 $19 in Ulu Tiram versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $229 vs $252 – 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 50%, 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 $1,263 per month in Ulu Tiram and $1,891 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 $842 in Ulu Tiram and $1,261 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 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 $842, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,261. 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.