🙂A single person spends $595 per month in Banjarmasin vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $941 per month in Banjarmasin vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,288 per month in Banjarmasin vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Banjarmasin is about 53% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Banjarmasin and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Banjarmasin56% lower, Playa del Carmen7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Banjarmasin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.16Rp 20.6K
$11.60MX$200
-90.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.18Rp 251.1K
$47.11MX$812
-69.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.45Rp 61.2K
$11.88MX$205
-70.96%
Cappuccino
$1.27Rp 22.4K
$3.98MX$68.6
-68.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81Rp 14.4K
$1.43MX$24.60
-43.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34Rp 6,055
$0.82MX$14.22
-58.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.23Rp 92.6K
$3.19MX$55.0
63.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37Rp 59.6K
$6.79MX$117
-50.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Banjarmasin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33Rp 23.6K
$1.68MX$28.89
-20.83%
White Bread(500g)
$0.95Rp 16.8K
$2.20MX$37.88
-56.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.86Rp 15.2K
$1.71MX$29.45
-49.71%
Eggs
$1.61Rp 28.5K
$2.74MX$47.26
-41.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.16Rp 144.5K
$9.58MX$165
-14.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.21Rp 39.1K
$9.01MX$155
-75.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.34Rp 59.2K
$12.81MX$221
-73.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.00Rp 35.4K
$2.89MX$49.81
-30.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.14Rp 20.2K
$1.50MX$25.81
-24.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.97Rp 17.1K
$2.15MX$37.03
-54.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.25Rp 22.1K
$2.26MX$38.96
-44.69%
Potato(1kg)
$1.27Rp 22.5K
$1.98MX$34.15
-35.86%
Onion(1kg)
$0.98Rp 17.4K
$1.99MX$34.30
-50.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.77Rp 13.7K
$1.23MX$21.28
-37.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44Rp 7,852
$1.20MX$20.63
-63.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.99Rp 35.2K
$4.55MX$78.5
-56.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.22Rp 340.3K
$10.37MX$179
85.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07Rp 36.6K
$1.62MX$27.91
27.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72Rp 48.2K
$2.88MX$49.67
-5.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Banjarmasin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.70Rp 12.3K
$0.60MX$10.35
16.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.72Rp 296.1K
$28.80MX$497
-41.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.50Rp 8,793
$5.39MX$92.9
-90.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.32Rp 5,753
$3.73MX$64.3
-91.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.94Rp 52.0K
$5.77MX$99.5
-49.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84Rp 14.8K
$1.54MX$26.48
-45.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.6KRp 452.7M
$22.5KMX$388.8K
13.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5KRp 593.6M
$26.1KMX$449.3K
28.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Banjarmasin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.57Rp 718.4K
$91.4MX$1,576
-55.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.77Rp 49.1K
$25.20MX$435
-89.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.69Rp 313.2K
$31.24MX$539
-43.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Banjarmasin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.43Rp 361.7K
$67.2MX$1,159
-69.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.42Rp 131.4K
$29.11MX$502
-74.51%
Cinema Ticket
$5.52Rp 97.8K
$4.86MX$83.8
13.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Banjarmasin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$96.0Rp 1.7M
$224MX$3,856
-57.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,529Rp 133.3M
$4,229MX$72.9K
78.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Banjarmasin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.38Rp 768.1K
$47.10MX$812
-7.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.84Rp 546.2K
$44.29MX$764
-30.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$55.3Rp 978.3K
$80.1MX$1,381
-31.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.34Rp 590.3K
$92.7MX$1,598
-64.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Banjarmasin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$217Rp 3.8M
$1,063MX$18.3K
-79.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$165Rp 2.9M
$390MX$6,728
-57.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$563Rp 10.0M
$2,149MX$37.1K
-73.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$370Rp 6.6M
$1,272MX$21.9K
-70.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,228Rp 21.7M
$4,001MX$69.0K
-69.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$752Rp 13.3M
$6,502MX$112.1K
-88.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Banjarmasin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$204Rp 3.6M
$758MX$13.1K
-73.10%
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 Banjarmasin: September 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $217 in Banjarmasin versus $1,063 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 272% 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 $14.00 in Banjarmasin versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $174 vs $276 – 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 113%, 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 $893 per month in Banjarmasin and $1,899 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 $14.00 in Banjarmasin and $47.00 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 $595 in Banjarmasin and $1,266 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 $595, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. 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