🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $597 in Cimahi versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $961 in Cimahi versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,326 in Cimahi versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Cimahi costs roughly 53% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cimahi56% lower, Playa del Carmen7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cimahi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.66Rp 29.4K
$11.60MX$200
-85.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.29Rp 253.0K
$47.11MX$812
-69.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.49Rp 61.8K
$11.88MX$205
-70.62%
Cappuccino
$1.58Rp 27.9K
$3.98MX$68.6
-60.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,163
$1.43MX$24.60
-67.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23Rp 4,052
$0.82MX$14.22
-71.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.76Rp 48.8K
$3.19MX$55.0
-13.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07Rp 54.3K
$6.79MX$117
-54.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cimahi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13Rp 20.0K
$1.68MX$28.89
-32.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.03Rp 18.3K
$2.20MX$37.88
-53.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.83Rp 14.7K
$1.71MX$29.45
-51.46%
Eggs
$1.50Rp 26.5K
$2.74MX$47.26
-45.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.33Rp 129.8K
$9.58MX$165
-23.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.88Rp 51.1K
$9.01MX$155
-68.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.80Rp 138.2K
$12.81MX$221
-39.11%
Apples(1kg)
$2.23Rp 39.6K
$2.89MX$49.81
-22.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.13Rp 19.9K
$1.50MX$25.81
-24.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.55Rp 27.4K
$2.15MX$37.03
-27.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.98Rp 17.4K
$2.26MX$38.96
-56.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.08Rp 19.1K
$1.98MX$34.15
-45.45%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90Rp 33.6K
$1.99MX$34.30
-4.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70Rp 12.5K
$1.23MX$21.28
-43.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43Rp 7,642
$1.20MX$20.63
-64.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.77Rp 49.0K
$4.55MX$78.5
-39.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.11Rp 373.8K
$10.37MX$179
103.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88Rp 33.2K
$1.62MX$27.91
16.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09Rp 54.7K
$2.88MX$49.67
7.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Cimahi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,093
$0.60MX$10.35
-51.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.80MX$497
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.52Rp 9,288
$5.39MX$92.9
-90.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35Rp 6,217
$3.73MX$64.3
-90.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.37Rp 41.9K
$5.77MX$99.5
-58.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84Rp 14.9K
$1.54MX$26.48
-45.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3KRp 377.1M
$22.5KMX$388.8K
-5.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.1KRp 516.1M
$26.1KMX$449.3K
11.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cimahi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$34.20Rp 605.5K
$91.4MX$1,576
-62.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.42Rp 78.3K
$25.20MX$435
-82.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.15Rp 339.0K
$31.24MX$539
-38.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cimahi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.00Rp 354.1K
$67.2MX$1,159
-70.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.37Rp 148.3K
$29.11MX$502
-71.25%
Cinema Ticket
$2.76Rp 48.8K
$4.86MX$83.8
-43.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cimahi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$95.9Rp 1.7M
$224MX$3,856
-57.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,308Rp 147.1M
$4,229MX$72.9K
96.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cimahi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.42Rp 715.7K
$47.10MX$812
-14.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.43Rp 521.2K
$44.29MX$764
-33.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.3Rp 1.3M
$80.1MX$1,381
-7.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.8Rp 1.3M
$92.7MX$1,598
-23.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cimahi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$218Rp 3.9M
$1,063MX$18.3K
-79.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$138Rp 2.4M
$390MX$6,728
-64.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$632Rp 11.2M
$2,149MX$37.1K
-70.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$321Rp 5.7M
$1,272MX$21.9K
-74.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,138Rp 20.2M
$4,001MX$69.0K
-71.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$739Rp 13.1M
$6,502MX$112.1K
-88.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cimahi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$258Rp 4.6M
$758MX$13.1K
-65.97%
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 Cimahi: September 14, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $218 in Cimahi and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 194% 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: $14.00 in Cimahi vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $276 per month, with Cimahi 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
Cimahi vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cimahi or Playa del Carmen?
Cimahi wins on cost – living expenses run 112% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cimahi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Cimahi or in Playa del Carmen?
On paper, salaries run 194% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Cimahi compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $218 in Cimahi versus $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Cimahi or in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 43% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Cimahi compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $597 per month in Cimahi versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen – a 112% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Cimahi or in Playa del Carmen?
At $597 in Cimahi versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Cimahi but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Cimahi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cimahi or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Cimahi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $597 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Cimahi hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Cimahi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 112% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.