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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $517 in Banyuwangi versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $802 in Banyuwangi versus $2,130 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,087 in Banyuwangi versus $2,999 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Banyuwangi costs roughly 59% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Banyuwangi 61% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Banyuwangi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$0.79 Rp 13.6K
$11.67 MX$202
-93.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.26 Rp 210.6K
$41.88 MX$726
-70.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.02 Rp 51.9K
$10.40 MX$180
-70.96%
Cappuccino
$1.32 Rp 22.6K
$3.61 MX$62.6
-63.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 Rp 7,104
$1.47 MX$25.45
-72.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 Rp 2,720
$0.91 MX$15.80
-82.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 Rp 40.3K
$3.03 MX$52.6
-22.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08 Rp 70.0K
$4.47 MX$77.4
-8.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Banyuwangi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 Rp 19.5K
$1.38 MX$23.83
-18.12%
White Bread (500g)
$0.72 Rp 12.3K
$1.84 MX$31.93
-60.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.82 Rp 14.2K
$1.61 MX$27.82
-49.07%
Eggs
$0.90 Rp 15.5K
$2.57 MX$44.52
-64.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.07 Rp 70.0K
$8.49 MX$147
-52.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.26 Rp 38.8K
$8.49 MX$147
-73.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.15 Rp 122.8K
$10.99 MX$190
-34.94%
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 Rp 37.2K
$2.73 MX$47.25
-20.51%
Banana (1kg)
$0.63 Rp 10.9K
$1.50 MX$25.92
-58.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.74 Rp 12.8K
$1.96 MX$33.93
-62.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.14 Rp 19.6K
$2.12 MX$36.70
-46.23%
Potato (1kg)
$0.90 Rp 15.4K
$1.86 MX$32.30
-51.61%
Onion (1kg)
$0.99 Rp 17.1K
$2.17 MX$37.67
-54.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.60 Rp 10.3K
$1.07 MX$18.59
-43.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36 Rp 6,251
$1.05 MX$18.18
-65.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.42 Rp 41.6K
$4.19 MX$72.6
-42.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.81 Rp 99.8K
$10.28 MX$178
-43.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 Rp 25.8K
$1.67 MX$28.87
-10.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 Rp 43.4K
$2.49 MX$43.12
1.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Banyuwangi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 Rp 5,573
$0.54 MX$9.37
-40.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.00 Rp 171.8K
$26.27 MX$455
-61.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,603
$3.10 MX$53.8
-85.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 Rp 4,979
$2.46 MX$42.66
-88.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.78 Rp 47.8K
$3.24 MX$56.1
-14.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 13.7K
$1.26 MX$21.83
-36.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K Rp 360.9M
$30.2K MX$522.8K
-30.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.8K Rp 528.7M
$23.4K MX$406.3K
31.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Banyuwangi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.5 Rp 884.7K
$84.0 MX$1,456
-38.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.24 Rp 72.8K
$22.21 MX$385
-80.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.62 Rp 337.2K
$29.65 MX$514
-33.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Banyuwangi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.79 Rp 391.7K
$52.6 MX$912
-56.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.19 Rp 106.4K
$18.34 MX$318
-66.25%
Cinema Ticket
$2.04 Rp 35.0K
$4.95 MX$85.7
-58.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Banyuwangi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$31.33 Rp 538.4K
$198 MX$3,438
-84.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,249 Rp 21.5M
$5,322 MX$92.2K
-76.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Banyuwangi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.49 Rp 420.9K
$35.95 MX$623
-31.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$12.09 Rp 207.8K
$40.06 MX$694
-69.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.0 Rp 1.1M
$78.8 MX$1,365
-21.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$30.44 Rp 523.2K
$86.5 MX$1,499
-64.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Banyuwangi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$254 Rp 4.4M
$977 MX$16.9K
-74.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$156 Rp 2.7M
$471 MX$8,158
-66.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$586 Rp 10.1M
$1,595 MX$27.6K
-63.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$332 Rp 5.7M
$1,215 MX$21.1K
-72.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,218 Rp 20.9M
$4,032 MX$69.9K
-69.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$769 Rp 13.2M
$6,579 MX$114.0K
-88.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Banyuwangi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$156 Rp 2.7M
$714 MX$12.4K
-78.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.84
11.42
-40.11%

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

Last update for Banyuwangi: April 20, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $254 in Banyuwangi and $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 359% 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 in Banyuwangi vs $42 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $129 vs $252 per month, with Banyuwangi 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
Banyuwangi vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Banyuwangi?
Banyuwangi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 144% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Banyuwangi or Playa del Carmen?
On paper, Playa del Carmen earns 359% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Banyuwangi and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $254 in Banyuwangi versus $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Banyuwangi and Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 95% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Banyuwangi or Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Banyuwangi – 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.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Banyuwangi or Playa del Carmen?
At $517 in Banyuwangi versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Banyuwangi but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Banyuwangi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Banyuwangi or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Banyuwangi is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Banyuwangi or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Banyuwangi and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Banyuwangi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 144% 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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