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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $619 per month in Banjarmasin vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $937 per month in Banjarmasin vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,254 per month in Banjarmasin vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Banjarmasin is about 51% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Banjarmasin and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Banjarmasin 53% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Banjarmasin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.26 Rp 22.7K
$11.72 MX$203
-89.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.12 Rp 218.7K
$41.89 MX$725
-71.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.54 Rp 45.9K
$10.51 MX$182
-75.83%
Cappuccino
$1.05 Rp 19.0K
$3.59 MX$62.0
-70.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 Rp 17.2K
$1.51 MX$26.10
-37.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 Rp 5,513
$0.92 MX$15.83
-66.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.52 Rp 45.5K
$2.96 MX$51.2
-14.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51 Rp 63.3K
$4.41 MX$76.3
-20.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Banjarmasin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 Rp 26.8K
$1.40 MX$24.16
5.71%
White Bread (500g)
$0.95 Rp 17.1K
$1.88 MX$32.60
-49.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.60 Rp 29.0K
$1.56 MX$26.97
2.56%
Eggs
$1.49 Rp 26.9K
$2.61 MX$45.14
-42.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.30 Rp 149.8K
$8.32 MX$144
-0.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.32 Rp 41.8K
$8.35 MX$145
-72.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.04 Rp 72.9K
$10.86 MX$188
-62.80%
Apples (1kg)
$1.88 Rp 33.9K
$2.71 MX$46.93
-30.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$1.51 MX$26.04
-29.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.94 Rp 17.0K
$1.87 MX$32.41
-49.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.69 Rp 12.4K
$2.19 MX$37.89
-68.49%
Potato (1kg)
$1.01 Rp 18.2K
$1.86 MX$32.14
-45.70%
Onion (1kg)
$1.08 Rp 19.5K
$2.23 MX$38.59
-51.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 Rp 13.7K
$1.07 MX$18.48
-28.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47 Rp 8,528
$1.09 MX$18.79
-56.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.87 Rp 33.8K
$4.19 MX$72.4
-55.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.41 Rp 368.5K
$10.43 MX$180
95.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 Rp 38.4K
$1.66 MX$28.68
28.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 Rp 55.6K
$2.61 MX$45.19
18.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Banjarmasin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,153
$0.54 MX$9.37
-46.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.31 Rp 330.5K
$26.16 MX$453
-30.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
$3.08 MX$53.3
-61.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.75 Rp 13.6K
$2.40 MX$41.61
-68.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.83 Rp 51.2K
$3.13 MX$54.1
-9.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
$1.31 MX$22.69
-34.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K Rp 448.3M
$29.8K MX$515.7K
-16.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K Rp 508.3M
$23.3K MX$403.5K
20.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Banjarmasin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$44.96 Rp 811.7K
$81.3 MX$1,406
-44.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.99 Rp 53.9K
$22.56 MX$390
-86.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69 Rp 337.3K
$30.05 MX$520
-37.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Banjarmasin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.17 Rp 887.6K
$52.9 MX$915
-7.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.02 Rp 108.8K
$18.39 MX$318
-67.26%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30 Rp 113.8K
$4.92 MX$85.1
28.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Banjarmasin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$61.2 Rp 1.1M
$201 MX$3,474
-69.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,693 Rp 138.9M
$5,175 MX$89.5K
48.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Banjarmasin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.36 Rp 494.0K
$35.92 MX$622
-23.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.75 Rp 555.2K
$40.13 MX$694
-23.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$59.7 Rp 1.1M
$79.7 MX$1,379
-25.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.21 Rp 653.6K
$86.5 MX$1,496
-58.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Banjarmasin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$255 Rp 4.6M
$978 MX$16.9K
-73.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$160 Rp 2.9M
$470 MX$8,140
-65.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$589 Rp 10.6M
$1,651 MX$28.6K
-64.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$330 Rp 6.0M
$1,203 MX$20.8K
-72.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,167 Rp 21.1M
$3,953 MX$68.4K
-70.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$728 Rp 13.1M
$6,607 MX$114.3K
-88.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Banjarmasin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$199 Rp 3.6M
$677 MX$11.7K
-70.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.15
11.42
-19.88%

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

Last update for Banjarmasin: July 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $255 in Banjarmasin versus $978 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 240% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Banjarmasin versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $180 vs $252 – making Banjarmasin 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
Banjarmasin vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Banjarmasin?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 104%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $929 per month in Banjarmasin and $1,890 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Banjarmasin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Banjarmasin or in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Banjarmasin and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Banjarmasin and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $619 in Banjarmasin and $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Banjarmasin or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Banjarmasin, where all-in costs run around $619, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Banjarmasin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Banjarmasin or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Banjarmasin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Banjarmasin. 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.

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