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: $508 in Banyuwangi versus $1,259 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $802 in Banyuwangi versus $2,177 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,097 in Banyuwangi versus $3,095 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Banyuwangi costs roughly 60% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Banyuwangi 62% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Banyuwangi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$0.80 Rp 14.3K
$11.95 MX$209
-93.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.33 Rp 221.2K
$41.94 MX$734
-70.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.01 Rp 54.1K
$10.42 MX$182
-71.11%
Cappuccino
$1.38 Rp 24.7K
$3.51 MX$61.5
-60.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 Rp 6,900
$1.52 MX$26.53
-75.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19 Rp 3,484
$0.91 MX$15.93
-79.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 Rp 42.1K
$3.04 MX$53.2
-22.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98 Rp 71.3K
$4.37 MX$76.5
-8.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Banyuwangi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 Rp 19.5K
$1.42 MX$24.86
-23.24%
White Bread (500g)
$0.71 Rp 12.7K
$1.83 MX$32.03
-61.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.84 Rp 15.0K
$1.63 MX$28.60
-48.47%
Eggs
$0.88 Rp 15.8K
$2.54 MX$44.43
-65.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.89 Rp 69.8K
$8.57 MX$150
-54.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.9K
$8.49 MX$149
-73.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.11 Rp 127.6K
$10.80 MX$189
-34.17%
Apples (1kg)
$2.14 Rp 38.3K
$2.75 MX$48.19
-22.18%
Banana (1kg)
$0.63 Rp 11.3K
$1.44 MX$25.13
-56.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
$1.89 MX$33.00
-61.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.08 Rp 19.3K
$2.17 MX$37.96
-50.23%
Potato (1kg)
$0.88 Rp 15.9K
$1.78 MX$31.13
-50.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.00 Rp 17.9K
$2.22 MX$38.91
-54.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.63 Rp 11.3K
$1.07 MX$18.70
-41.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36 Rp 6,512
$1.08 MX$18.89
-66.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.43 Rp 43.5K
$4.15 MX$72.5
-41.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.56 Rp 99.8K
$10.45 MX$183
-46.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 Rp 27.0K
$1.74 MX$30.50
-13.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 Rp 44.9K
$2.58 MX$45.16
-2.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Banyuwangi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 Rp 5,808
$0.51 MX$8.98
-37.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.79 Rp 175.7K
$25.94 MX$454
-62.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 7,987
$3.21 MX$56.2
-85.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 Rp 5,141
$2.50 MX$43.78
-88.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.81 Rp 50.4K
$3.19 MX$55.7
-11.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 14.4K
$1.26 MX$21.98
-36.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K Rp 379.2M
$29.7K MX$519.3K
-28.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1K Rp 557.5M
$23.7K MX$414.3K
31.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Banyuwangi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$50.7 Rp 910.1K
$82.0 MX$1,435
-38.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.23 Rp 75.9K
$22.73 MX$398
-81.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.29 Rp 346.0K
$29.42 MX$515
-34.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Banyuwangi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.03 Rp 413.0K
$52.2 MX$913
-55.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.04 Rp 108.3K
$18.45 MX$323
-67.26%
Cinema Ticket
$2.12 Rp 38.0K
$4.93 MX$86.3
-57.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Banyuwangi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$30.59 Rp 548.6K
$202 MX$3,530
-84.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,216 Rp 21.8M
$5,217 MX$91.3K
-76.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Banyuwangi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.50 Rp 439.4K
$35.93 MX$629
-31.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$12.26 Rp 219.9K
$40.33 MX$706
-69.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.5 Rp 1.1M
$79.9 MX$1,397
-21.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$30.65 Rp 549.7K
$89.3 MX$1,562
-65.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Banyuwangi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$254 Rp 4.6M
$948 MX$16.6K
-73.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$157 Rp 2.8M
$465 MX$8,140
-66.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$596 Rp 10.7M
$1,630 MX$28.5K
-63.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$333 Rp 6.0M
$1,193 MX$20.9K
-72.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,171 Rp 21.0M
$3,933 MX$68.8K
-70.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$703 Rp 12.6M
$6,428 MX$112.4K
-89.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Banyuwangi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$154 Rp 2.8M
$658 MX$11.5K
-76.63%
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: July 21, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $254 in Banyuwangi and $948 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 328% 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: $12.00 in Banyuwangi vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $127 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 148% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Banyuwangi or Playa del Carmen?
On paper, salaries run 328% lower in Playa del Carmen. 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 $948 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 98% 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 in 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 living in Banyuwangi or in Playa del Carmen?
At $508 in Banyuwangi versus $1,259 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 148% 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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