🙂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: Banyuwangi61% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Banyuwangi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$0.79Rp 13.6K
$11.67MX$202
-93.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.26Rp 210.6K
$41.88MX$726
-70.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.02Rp 51.9K
$10.40MX$180
-70.96%
Cappuccino
$1.32Rp 22.6K
$3.61MX$62.6
-63.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41Rp 7,104
$1.47MX$25.45
-72.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16Rp 2,720
$0.91MX$15.80
-82.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35Rp 40.3K
$3.03MX$52.6
-22.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08Rp 70.0K
$4.47MX$77.4
-8.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Banyuwangi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13Rp 19.5K
$1.38MX$23.83
-18.12%
White Bread(500g)
$0.72Rp 12.3K
$1.84MX$31.93
-60.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.82Rp 14.2K
$1.61MX$27.82
-49.07%
Eggs
$0.90Rp 15.5K
$2.57MX$44.52
-64.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.07Rp 70.0K
$8.49MX$147
-52.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.26Rp 38.8K
$8.49MX$147
-73.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.15Rp 122.8K
$10.99MX$190
-34.94%
Apples(1kg)
$2.17Rp 37.2K
$2.73MX$47.25
-20.51%
Banana(1kg)
$0.63Rp 10.9K
$1.50MX$25.92
-58.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.74Rp 12.8K
$1.96MX$33.93
-62.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.14Rp 19.6K
$2.12MX$36.70
-46.23%
Potato(1kg)
$0.90Rp 15.4K
$1.86MX$32.30
-51.61%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99Rp 17.1K
$2.17MX$37.67
-54.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.60Rp 10.3K
$1.07MX$18.59
-43.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36Rp 6,251
$1.05MX$18.18
-65.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.42Rp 41.6K
$4.19MX$72.6
-42.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.81Rp 99.8K
$10.28MX$178
-43.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50Rp 25.8K
$1.67MX$28.87
-10.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53Rp 43.4K
$2.49MX$43.12
1.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Banyuwangi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,573
$0.54MX$9.37
-40.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.00Rp 171.8K
$26.27MX$455
-61.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.44Rp 7,603
$3.10MX$53.8
-85.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29Rp 4,979
$2.46MX$42.66
-88.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.78Rp 47.8K
$3.24MX$56.1
-14.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.80Rp 13.7K
$1.26MX$21.83
-36.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0KRp 360.9M
$30.2KMX$522.8K
-30.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.8KRp 528.7M
$23.4KMX$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)
$51.5Rp 884.7K
$84.0MX$1,456
-38.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.24Rp 72.8K
$22.21MX$385
-80.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.62Rp 337.2K
$29.65MX$514
-33.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Banyuwangi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.79Rp 391.7K
$52.6MX$912
-56.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.19Rp 106.4K
$18.34MX$318
-66.25%
Cinema Ticket
$2.04Rp 35.0K
$4.95MX$85.7
-58.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Banyuwangi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$31.33Rp 538.4K
$198MX$3,438
-84.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,249Rp 21.5M
$5,322MX$92.2K
-76.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Banyuwangi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.49Rp 420.9K
$35.95MX$623
-31.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$12.09Rp 207.8K
$40.06MX$694
-69.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.0Rp 1.1M
$78.8MX$1,365
-21.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$30.44Rp 523.2K
$86.5MX$1,499
-64.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Banyuwangi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$254Rp 4.4M
$977MX$16.9K
-74.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$156Rp 2.7M
$471MX$8,158
-66.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$586Rp 10.1M
$1,595MX$27.6K
-63.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$332Rp 5.7M
$1,215MX$21.1K
-72.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,218Rp 20.9M
$4,032MX$69.9K
-69.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$769Rp 13.2M
$6,579MX$114.0K
-88.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Banyuwangi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$156Rp 2.7M
$714MX$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.
Banyuwangi vs other spots: cost of living compared