Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandar Lampung and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandar Lampung and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $553 in Bandar Lampung versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $857 in Bandar Lampung versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,162 in Bandar Lampung versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Bandar Lampung costs roughly 56% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bandar Lampung 59% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bandar Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.70 Rp 30.4K
$11.99 MX$210
-85.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.40 Rp 222.5K
$41.78 MX$733
-70.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.20 Rp 57.3K
$10.75 MX$189
-70.23%
Cappuccino
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
$3.50 MX$61.3
-71.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 Rp 6,535
$1.45 MX$25.41
-75.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 Rp 4,262
$0.88 MX$15.52
-72.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.99 Rp 35.6K
$2.95 MX$51.7
-32.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 Rp 56.6K
$4.51 MX$79.1
-29.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bandar Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 Rp 21.1K
$1.43 MX$25.12
-17.48%
White Bread (500g)
$0.94 Rp 16.9K
$1.84 MX$32.23
-48.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.77 Rp 13.9K
$1.57 MX$27.51
-50.96%
Eggs
$1.35 Rp 24.2K
$2.51 MX$44.06
-46.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.41 Rp 115.0K
$8.28 MX$145
-22.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.87 Rp 51.4K
$8.43 MX$148
-65.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.02 Rp 108.0K
$10.68 MX$187
-43.63%
Apples (1kg)
$1.95 Rp 35.0K
$2.61 MX$45.76
-25.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 Rp 19.0K
$1.44 MX$25.22
-26.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.35 Rp 24.1K
$1.96 MX$34.41
-31.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.46 Rp 26.2K
$2.09 MX$36.74
-30.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
$1.85 MX$32.47
-36.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 Rp 30.0K
$2.17 MX$38.02
-23.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.56 Rp 10.1K
$1.03 MX$18.09
-45.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46 Rp 8,247
$1.07 MX$18.84
-57.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.86 Rp 33.4K
$4.10 MX$72.0
-54.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.72 Rp 371.7K
$10.17 MX$178
103.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 Rp 27.2K
$1.68 MX$29.38
-9.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19 Rp 57.2K
$2.53 MX$44.31
26.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Bandar Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 Rp 10.8K
$0.51 MX$8.93
17.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.08 Rp 180.8K
$26.04 MX$457
-61.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.53 Rp 9,576
$3.23 MX$56.7
-83.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 Rp 6,275
$2.41 MX$42.19
-85.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 Rp 54.1K
$3.23 MX$56.6
-6.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.66 Rp 11.8K
$1.32 MX$23.17
-50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5K Rp 438.9M
$29.7K MX$520.9K
-17.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K Rp 434.3M
$23.7K MX$415.0K
2.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bandar Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$43.70 Rp 784.0K
$82.0 MX$1,439
-46.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.69 Rp 120.0K
$22.95 MX$403
-70.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.78 Rp 498.3K
$30.11 MX$528
-7.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bandar Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.26 Rp 417.3K
$52.0 MX$912
-55.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.10 Rp 163.2K
$18.53 MX$325
-50.89%
Cinema Ticket
$2.81 Rp 50.5K
$4.98 MX$87.3
-43.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bandar Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$31.10 Rp 557.9K
$197 MX$3,463
-84.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,597 Rp 172.2M
$5,336 MX$93.6K
79.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bandar Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.10 Rp 414.4K
$35.60 MX$624
-35.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.00 Rp 376.7K
$40.33 MX$707
-47.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$21.54 Rp 386.4K
$78.8 MX$1,381
-72.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.46 Rp 725.8K
$88.9 MX$1,560
-54.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bandar Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$263 Rp 4.7M
$947 MX$16.6K
-72.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$155 Rp 2.8M
$474 MX$8,314
-67.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$595 Rp 10.7M
$1,644 MX$28.8K
-63.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$334 Rp 6.0M
$1,211 MX$21.2K
-72.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,133 Rp 20.3M
$4,056 MX$71.1K
-72.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$687 Rp 12.3M
$6,470 MX$113.5K
-89.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bandar Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$177 Rp 3.2M
$654 MX$11.5K
-72.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.59
11.42
-16.02%

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

Last update for Bandar Lampung: July 11, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $263 in Bandar Lampung and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 270% 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: $12.00 in Bandar Lampung vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $180 vs $249 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 127% 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.
Are salaries higher in Bandar Lampung or in Playa del Carmen?
On paper, salaries run 270% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bandar Lampung compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $263 in Bandar Lampung versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
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 $12.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Bandar Lampung compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $553 per month in Bandar Lampung versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – a 127% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bandar Lampung or in Playa del Carmen?
At $553 in Bandar Lampung versus $1,256 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 $553 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 127% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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