Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandar Lampung and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Bandar Lampung: $573 a month against $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $7,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Bandar Lampung, Indonesia
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Bandar Lampung
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$573
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bandar Lampung and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bandar Lampung and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $573 in Bandar Lampung versus $1,204 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Bandar Lampung $573
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

Estimated couple costs with rent: $929 in Bandar Lampung versus $2,082 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Bandar Lampung $929
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,285 in Bandar Lampung versus $2,959 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Bandar Lampung $1,285
  • Playa del Carmen $2,959

Living in Bandar Lampung costs roughly 52% less than in Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bandar Lampung 58% lower, Playa del Carmen 12% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bandar Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.50 Rp 27.2K
$10.92 MX$205
-86.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.63 Rp 174.6K
$43.37 MX$815
-77.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.47 Rp 44.7K
$11.78 MX$221
-79.03%
Cappuccino
$0.84 Rp 15.2K
$3.81 MX$71.6
-77.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 Rp 4,761
$1.28 MX$24.10
-79.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 Rp 3,809
$0.78 MX$14.71
-73.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.62 Rp 29.4K
$3.17 MX$59.5
-48.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 Rp 46.2K
$4.93 MX$92.7
-48.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bandar Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 Rp 18.7K
$1.41 MX$26.43
-26.95%
White Bread (500g)
$1.12 Rp 20.3K
$2.22 MX$41.66
-49.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.67 Rp 12.2K
$1.42 MX$26.64
-52.82%
Eggs
$1.55 Rp 28.1K
$2.52 MX$47.41
-38.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.21 Rp 167.0K
$7.26 MX$137
26.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.98 Rp 54.0K
$7.70 MX$145
-61.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.45 Rp 135.2K
$12.69 MX$239
-41.29%
Apples (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 34.6K
$2.78 MX$52.3
-31.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 Rp 19.6K
$1.37 MX$25.71
-21.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.39 Rp 25.2K
$2.55 MX$47.94
-45.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.30 Rp 23.6K
$2.12 MX$39.90
-38.68%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 Rp 15.4K
$1.94 MX$36.43
-56.19%
Onion (1kg)
$1.41 Rp 25.6K
$1.89 MX$35.44
-25.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.57 Rp 10.4K
$1.15 MX$21.55
-50.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39 Rp 7,143
$1.18 MX$22.16
-66.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.88 Rp 34.1K
$4.30 MX$80.7
-56.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.79 Rp 377.0K
$9.95 MX$187
108.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40 Rp 25.5K
$1.58 MX$29.76
-11.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 Rp 56.2K
$2.67 MX$50.2
16.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Bandar Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,564
$0.55 MX$10.40
-54.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.75 Rp 231.2K
$26.62 MX$500
-52.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.53 Rp 9,651
$4.97 MX$93.4
-89.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.32 Rp 5,714
$3.33 MX$62.6
-90.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 Rp 59.1K
$5.36 MX$101
-39.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.67 Rp 12.1K
$1.44 MX$27.14
-53.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7K Rp 393.5M
$20.7K MX$388.4K
4.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K Rp 404.4M
$23.5K MX$441.0K
-4.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bandar Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$37.80 Rp 685.7K
$84.8 MX$1,594
-55.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.17 Rp 111.9K
$23.41 MX$440
-73.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.98 Rp 199.1K
$28.66 MX$539
-61.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bandar Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.84 Rp 341.6K
$57.1 MX$1,072
-66.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.31 Rp 150.7K
$28.91 MX$543
-71.26%
Cinema Ticket
$2.67 Rp 48.5K
$5.14 MX$96.6
-48.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bandar Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$92.2 Rp 1.7M
$207 MX$3,882
-55.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,164 Rp 148.1M
$3,927 MX$73.8K
107.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bandar Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.50 Rp 299.3K
$43.35 MX$815
-61.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.97 Rp 507.3K
$41.44 MX$779
-32.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.0 Rp 1.3M
$74.2 MX$1,394
-5.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 Rp 1.9M
$89.3 MX$1,677
17.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bandar Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$231 Rp 4.2M
$980 MX$18.4K
-76.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$144 Rp 2.6M
$381 MX$7,157
-62.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$543 Rp 9.9M
$1,708 MX$32.1K
-68.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$365 Rp 6.6M
$1,075 MX$20.2K
-66.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,139 Rp 20.7M
$3,943 MX$74.1K
-71.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$786 Rp 14.3M
$6,158 MX$115.7K
-87.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bandar Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$735 MX$13.8K
-
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: October 24, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Bandar Lampung
$190
Playa del Carmen
$255 33.7% $64
Accommodation & Living
Bandar Lampung
$144
Playa del Carmen
$381 164% $237
Clothing & Footwear
Bandar Lampung
$99
Playa del Carmen
$112 13% $13
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bandar Lampung
$55
Playa del Carmen
$137 149% $82
Eating Out
Bandar Lampung
$45
Playa del Carmen
$202 355% $158
Sport & Entertainment
Bandar Lampung
$24
Playa del Carmen
$67 178% $43
Getting Around
Bandar Lampung
$16
Playa del Carmen
$50 218% $35

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $231 in Bandar Lampung and $980 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $10 in Bandar Lampung vs $43 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $255 per month, with Bandar Lampung cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Bandar Lampung
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
16:24 4:24 PM
04:24 4:24 AM
12 h behind Bandar Lampung
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
921,087
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18,138 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,241 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18.79 MXN (100 MXN = 5.32 USD). 1 EUR = 20.97 MXN (100 MXN = 4.77 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bandar Lampung Playa del Carmen 17,860 km ≈ 23 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bandar Lampung
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 52% 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 $860 in Bandar Lampung and $1,806 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: $231 in Bandar Lampung versus $980 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 $10 versus $43 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 $573 per month in Bandar Lampung versus $1,204 in Playa del Carmen – Bandar Lampung is about 52% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Can you live on $800/month in Bandar Lampung or in Playa del Carmen?
At $573 in Bandar Lampung versus $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, a $800 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 offers a better quality of life: Bandar Lampung or Playa del Carmen?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bandar Lampung gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% 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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