Cost of Living Comparison Between Canggu, Bali and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Canggu, Bali and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,676 per month in Canggu, Bali vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,089 per month in Canggu, Bali vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,503 per month in Canggu, Bali vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Canggu, Bali costs about 30% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Canggu, Bali sits 25% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Canggu, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.26 Rp 73.5K
$11.94 MX$208
-64.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.58 Rp 666.1K
$42.75 MX$744
-9.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.96 Rp 102.9K
$10.59 MX$184
-43.72%
Cappuccino
$3.41 Rp 58.9K
$3.62 MX$63.0
-5.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 Rp 28.8K
$1.47 MX$25.54
13.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 Rp 14.8K
$0.94 MX$16.41
-8.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 Rp 60.0K
$3.09 MX$53.8
12.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63 Rp 80.0K
$4.46 MX$77.6
3.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Canggu, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.90 Rp 32.7K
$1.43 MX$24.80
32.87%
White Bread (500g)
$2.67 Rp 46.1K
$1.88 MX$32.79
42.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.25 Rp 21.6K
$1.63 MX$28.34
-23.31%
Eggs
$2.45 Rp 42.2K
$2.64 MX$45.99
-7.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.52 Rp 268.0K
$8.21 MX$143
89.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.36 Rp 75.2K
$8.29 MX$144
-47.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.40 Rp 214.1K
$11.10 MX$193
11.71%
Apples (1kg)
$3.86 Rp 66.6K
$2.65 MX$46.14
45.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 28.2K
$1.50 MX$26.11
8.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.96 Rp 51.1K
$1.99 MX$34.59
48.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 40.3K
$2.08 MX$36.13
12.02%
Potato (1kg)
$2.03 Rp 35.1K
$1.79 MX$31.11
13.41%
Onion (1kg)
$2.38 Rp 41.0K
$2.18 MX$37.87
9.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 Rp 18.5K
$1.08 MX$18.73
-0.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 Rp 13.0K
$1.04 MX$18.04
-27.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.31 Rp 57.1K
$3.97 MX$69.1
-16.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.63 Rp 425.3K
$10.20 MX$178
141.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.91 Rp 50.2K
$1.73 MX$30.04
68.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 Rp 50.2K
$2.50 MX$43.46
16.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Canggu, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 Rp 6,140
$0.52 MX$9.02
-30.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.84 Rp 169.9K
$26.97 MX$469
-63.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.57 Rp 9,898
$3.14 MX$54.7
-81.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.51 Rp 8,755
$2.40 MX$41.80
-78.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.35 Rp 126.9K
$3.09 MX$53.7
137.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 Rp 17.5K
$1.27 MX$22.16
-20.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.0K Rp 535.0M
$30.9K MX$537.3K
0.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.0K Rp 656.6M
$23.3K MX$405.7K
63.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canggu, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.0 Rp 1.5M
$82.0 MX$1,427
3.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.13 Rp 71.2K
$22.45 MX$391
-81.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.71 Rp 426.7K
$29.66 MX$516
-16.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Canggu, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$112 Rp 1.9M
$51.9 MX$903
115.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.39 Rp 127.5K
$18.67 MX$325
-60.42%
Cinema Ticket
$4.65 Rp 80.3K
$4.97 MX$86.5
-6.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Canggu, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$321 Rp 5.5M
$198 MX$3,442
62.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,197 Rp 124.3M
$5,273 MX$91.7K
36.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Canggu, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.2 Rp 986.9K
$36.34 MX$632
57.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.65 Rp 684.6K
$40.05 MX$697
-1.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.2 Rp 1.6M
$79.9 MX$1,390
15.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.7 Rp 1.4M
$88.9 MX$1,547
-8.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Canggu, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,281 Rp 22.1M
$963 MX$16.8K
32.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$892 Rp 15.4M
$465 MX$8,086
91.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,406 Rp 76.1M
$1,596 MX$27.8K
176.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,710 Rp 46.8M
$1,209 MX$21.0K
124.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,952 Rp 68.2M
$3,942 MX$68.6K
0.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,013 Rp 52.0M
$6,448 MX$112.2K
-53.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Canggu, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$720 MX$12.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
11.42
16.29%

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

Last update for Canggu, Bali: April 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,281 in Canggu, Bali versus $963 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Canggu, Bali versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $312 in Canggu, Bali vs $251 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Canggu, Bali vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Canggu, Bali and Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,676 in Canggu, Bali, $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 30% apart. Canggu, Bali costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Canggu, Bali compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,514 per month in Canggu, Bali and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Canggu, Bali and Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Canggu, Bali or Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,676 in Canggu, Bali and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Canggu, Bali and Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 174% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Canggu, Bali at $1,676. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Canggu, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Canggu, Bali and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Canggu, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,287 in Playa del Carmen to $1,676 in Canggu, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Canggu, Bali or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Canggu, Bali and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Canggu, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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