🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $587 in Bandar Lampung versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $938 in Bandar Lampung versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,290 in Bandar Lampung versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Bandar Lampung costs roughly 54% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bandar Lampung57% lower, Playa del Carmen7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bandar Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.58Rp 27.9K
$11.60MX$200
-86.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.33Rp 182.9K
$47.11MX$812
-78.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.62Rp 46.4K
$11.88MX$205
-77.95%
Cappuccino
$0.90Rp 15.9K
$3.98MX$68.6
-77.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27Rp 4,828
$1.43MX$24.60
-81.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24Rp 4,261
$0.82MX$14.22
-70.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67Rp 29.6K
$3.19MX$55.0
-47.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53Rp 44.9K
$6.79MX$117
-62.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bandar Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00Rp 17.8K
$1.68MX$28.89
-40.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.15Rp 20.3K
$2.20MX$37.88
-47.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.67Rp 11.8K
$1.71MX$29.45
-60.82%
Eggs
$1.52Rp 26.8K
$2.74MX$47.26
-44.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.50Rp 168.2K
$9.58MX$165
-0.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.16Rp 55.9K
$9.01MX$155
-64.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.93Rp 140.4K
$12.81MX$221
-38.10%
Apples(1kg)
$1.96Rp 34.7K
$2.89MX$49.81
-32.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.12Rp 19.8K
$1.50MX$25.81
-25.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.45Rp 25.6K
$2.15MX$37.03
-32.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.34Rp 23.6K
$2.26MX$38.96
-40.71%
Potato(1kg)
$0.81Rp 14.3K
$1.98MX$34.15
-59.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51Rp 26.8K
$1.99MX$34.30
-24.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.59Rp 10.4K
$1.23MX$21.28
-52.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41Rp 7,244
$1.20MX$20.63
-65.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.97Rp 34.9K
$4.55MX$78.5
-56.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.87Rp 387.2K
$10.37MX$179
110.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45Rp 25.6K
$1.62MX$27.91
-10.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21Rp 56.8K
$2.88MX$49.67
11.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Bandar Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24Rp 4,289
$0.60MX$10.35
-60.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.80MX$497
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.49Rp 8,697
$5.39MX$92.9
-90.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33Rp 5,773
$3.73MX$64.3
-91.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.43Rp 60.7K
$5.77MX$99.5
-40.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.74Rp 13.2K
$1.54MX$26.48
-51.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0KRp 407.0M
$22.5KMX$388.8K
1.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6KRp 400.9M
$26.1KMX$449.3K
-13.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bandar Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.64Rp 702.0K
$91.4MX$1,576
-56.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.13Rp 108.5K
$25.20MX$435
-75.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.36Rp 201.2K
$31.24MX$539
-63.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bandar Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.81Rp 350.8K
$67.2MX$1,159
-70.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.34Rp 147.7K
$29.11MX$502
-71.35%
Cinema Ticket
$2.91Rp 51.4K
$4.86MX$83.8
-40.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bandar Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$28.48Rp 504.2K
$224MX$3,856
-87.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,167Rp 144.6M
$4,229MX$72.9K
93.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bandar Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.84Rp 298.1K
$47.10MX$812
-64.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.06Rp 514.5K
$44.29MX$764
-34.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.2Rp 1.3M
$80.1MX$1,381
-8.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106Rp 1.9M
$92.7MX$1,598
14.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bandar Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$232Rp 4.1M
$1,063MX$18.3K
-78.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$159Rp 2.8M
$390MX$6,728
-59.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$570Rp 10.1M
$2,149MX$37.1K
-73.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$367Rp 6.5M
$1,272MX$21.9K
-71.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,168Rp 20.7M
$4,001MX$69.0K
-70.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$672Rp 11.9M
$6,502MX$112.1K
-89.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bandar Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$758MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.46
11.45
-17.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bandar Lampung: September 15, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $232 in Bandar Lampung and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $10.00 in Bandar Lampung vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $276 per month, with Bandar Lampung 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
Bandar Lampung vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bandar Lampung or Playa del Carmen?
Bandar Lampung wins on cost – living expenses run 116% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bandar Lampung the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bandar Lampung and in Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $881 in Bandar Lampung and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bandar Lampung compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $232 in Bandar Lampung versus $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Bandar Lampung and in Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $28.48 in Bandar Lampung versus $224 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Bandar Lampung and in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Bandar Lampung – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bandar Lampung or in Playa del Carmen?
At $587 in Bandar Lampung versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bandar Lampung but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Bandar Lampung the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bandar Lampung or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bandar Lampung delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $587 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bandar Lampung hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bandar Lampung gentler on the wallet – expenses run 116% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Bandar Lampung vs other spots: cost of living compared