🙂A single person spends $623 per month in Banjarmasin vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $948 per month in Banjarmasin vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,272 per month in Banjarmasin vs $2,980 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 – Banjarmasin54% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Banjarmasin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.21Rp 21.7K
$11.87MX$204
-89.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.08Rp 216.5K
$42.90MX$736
-71.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.54Rp 45.6K
$10.65MX$183
-76.15%
Cappuccino
$1.11Rp 19.9K
$3.45MX$59.2
-67.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02Rp 18.2K
$1.50MX$25.81
-32.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31Rp 5,540
$0.95MX$16.28
-67.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43Rp 43.6K
$3.03MX$51.9
-19.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45Rp 61.8K
$4.61MX$79.1
-25.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Banjarmasin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44Rp 25.7K
$1.38MX$23.61
4.35%
White Bread(500g)
$0.89Rp 16.0K
$1.85MX$31.70
-51.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64Rp 29.3K
$1.61MX$27.65
1.86%
Eggs
$1.44Rp 25.9K
$2.59MX$44.51
-44.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.08Rp 144.7K
$8.26MX$142
-2.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.36Rp 42.3K
$8.37MX$144
-71.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.07Rp 73.0K
$10.66MX$183
-61.82%
Apples(1kg)
$1.97Rp 35.3K
$2.63MX$45.12
-25.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.02Rp 18.3K
$1.49MX$25.53
-31.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.95Rp 17.1K
$1.92MX$32.94
-50.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.73Rp 13.1K
$2.09MX$35.81
-65.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.05Rp 18.8K
$1.86MX$31.88
-43.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.07Rp 19.2K
$2.26MX$38.81
-52.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.82Rp 14.7K
$1.06MX$18.23
-22.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47Rp 8,492
$1.09MX$18.67
-56.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.81Rp 32.4K
$4.15MX$71.2
-56.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.00Rp 376.2K
$10.39MX$178
102.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01Rp 36.0K
$1.72MX$29.59
16.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06Rp 54.8K
$2.61MX$44.85
17.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Banjarmasin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,193
$0.54MX$9.30
-46.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.47Rp 331.0K
$26.94MX$462
-31.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.24Rp 22.2K
$3.13MX$53.7
-60.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73Rp 13.1K
$2.51MX$43.09
-70.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.88Rp 51.7K
$3.15MX$54.1
-8.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85Rp 15.1K
$1.27MX$21.88
-33.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.1KRp 431.7M
$30.4KMX$521.3K
-20.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3KRp 489.3M
$23.6KMX$404.5K
15.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Banjarmasin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.99Rp 806.1K
$83.0MX$1,425
-45.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.09Rp 55.4K
$22.71MX$390
-86.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.26Rp 345.0K
$29.46MX$506
-34.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Banjarmasin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.50Rp 886.9K
$51.0MX$875
-2.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.04Rp 108.2K
$18.33MX$315
-67.05%
Cinema Ticket
$6.22Rp 111.5K
$4.93MX$84.5
26.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Banjarmasin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$62.1Rp 1.1M
$197MX$3,386
-68.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,503Rp 134.4M
$5,280MX$90.6K
42.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Banjarmasin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.74Rp 496.9K
$36.90MX$633
-24.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.53Rp 547.1K
$39.89MX$685
-23.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.1Rp 1.1M
$80.0MX$1,373
-24.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$34.98Rp 626.7K
$89.5MX$1,536
-60.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Banjarmasin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$256Rp 4.6M
$956MX$16.4K
-73.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$157Rp 2.8M
$477MX$8,189
-67.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$575Rp 10.3M
$1,646MX$28.3K
-65.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$328Rp 5.9M
$1,225MX$21.0K
-73.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,167Rp 20.9M
$3,918MX$67.2K
-70.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$745Rp 13.3M
$6,459MX$110.9K
-88.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Banjarmasin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$198Rp 3.5M
$667MX$11.4K
-70.33%
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: June 9, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $256 in Banjarmasin versus $956 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 237% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $180 vs $250 – 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 $935 per month in Banjarmasin and $1,906 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 Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Banjarmasin and $43.00 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $623 in Banjarmasin and $1,271 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 Banjarmasin or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Banjarmasin, where all-in costs run around $623, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. 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.
Banjarmasin vs other spots: cost of living compared