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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $787 in Balikpapan versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,194 in Balikpapan versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,600 in Balikpapan versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Balikpapan costs roughly 38% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Balikpapan 41% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.58 Rp 28.5K

$11.72 MX$203

-86.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.12 Rp 273.0K

$41.89 MX$725

-63.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.32 Rp 59.9K

$10.51 MX$182

-68.41%

Cappuccino

$1.79 Rp 32.3K

$3.59 MX$62.0

-50.14%

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

$0.41 Rp 7,361

$1.51 MX$26.10

-72.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 Rp 6,938

$0.92 MX$15.83

-58.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 Rp 35.1K

$2.96 MX$51.2

-34.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 Rp 55.8K

$4.41 MX$76.3

-29.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 Rp 34.1K

$1.40 MX$24.16

35.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 Rp 22.1K

$1.88 MX$32.60

-35.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 Rp 23.7K

$1.56 MX$26.97

-16.03%

Eggs

$2.67 Rp 48.2K

$2.61 MX$45.14

2.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.25 Rp 149.0K

$8.32 MX$144

-0.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.01 Rp 90.4K

$8.35 MX$145

-40.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.72 Rp 139.3K

$10.86 MX$188

-28.91%

Apples (1kg)

$3.76 Rp 67.8K

$2.71 MX$46.93

38.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 Rp 27.2K

$1.51 MX$26.04

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 Rp 38.3K

$1.87 MX$32.41

13.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 Rp 22.8K

$2.19 MX$37.89

-42.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 Rp 32.3K

$1.86 MX$32.14

-3.76%

Onion (1kg)

$3.74 Rp 67.6K

$2.23 MX$38.59

67.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 Rp 16.7K

$1.07 MX$18.48

-13.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 Rp 14.3K

$1.09 MX$18.79

-27.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.01 Rp 36.4K

$4.19 MX$72.4

-52.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.19 Rp 364.5K

$10.43 MX$180

93.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 Rp 39.3K

$1.66 MX$28.68

31.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 Rp 79.1K

$2.61 MX$45.19

67.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 Rp 10.5K

$0.54 MX$9.37

7.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.12 Rp 182.7K

$26.16 MX$453

-61.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 Rp 21.8K

$3.08 MX$53.3

-60.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 Rp 6,708

$2.40 MX$41.61

-84.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 Rp 109.5K

$3.13 MX$54.1

93.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

$1.31 MX$22.69

-44.27%

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

$24.5K Rp 443.0M

$29.8K MX$515.7K

-17.68%

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

$25.5K Rp 460.1M

$23.3K MX$403.5K

9.27%

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

$93.1 Rp 1.7M

$81.3 MX$1,406

14.54%

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

$3.12 Rp 56.4K

$22.56 MX$390

-86.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.41 Rp 585.2K

$30.05 MX$520

7.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.16 Rp 382.0K

$52.9 MX$915

-60.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.02 Rp 108.6K

$18.39 MX$318

-67.26%

Cinema Ticket

$3.01 Rp 54.4K

$4.92 MX$85.1

-38.82%

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

$62.0 Rp 1.1M

$201 MX$3,474

-69.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,605 Rp 137.3M

$5,175 MX$89.5K

46.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.03 Rp 758.8K

$35.92 MX$622

17.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.04 Rp 379.8K

$40.13 MX$694

-47.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 Rp 2.3M

$79.7 MX$1,379

56.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 Rp 2.2M

$86.5 MX$1,496

42.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$222 Rp 4.0M

$978 MX$16.9K

-77.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 Rp 2.8M

$470 MX$8,140

-66.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 Rp 8.8M

$1,651 MX$28.6K

-70.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$302 Rp 5.4M

$1,203 MX$20.8K

-74.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,090 Rp 19.7M

$3,953 MX$68.4K

-72.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$597 Rp 10.8M

$6,607 MX$114.3K

-90.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$192 Rp 3.5M

$677 MX$11.7K

-71.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

31.35%

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

Last update for Balikpapan: July 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $222 in Balikpapan and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 252% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $15.00 in Balikpapan vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $252 per month, with Balikpapan cheaper across the board.

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

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

Balikpapan and Playa del Carmen differ by about 60% in total monthly costs ($787 vs $1,260 including rent). Balikpapan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 252% lower in Playa del Carmen. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $222 in Balikpapan versus $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Balikpapan runs roughly 158% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $62.0 in Balikpapan versus $201 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $787 in Balikpapan versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Balikpapan but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Balikpapan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Balikpapan and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Balikpapan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.