🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $629 in Cimahi versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $960 in Cimahi versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,291 in Cimahi versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Cimahi costs roughly 51% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cimahi53% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cimahi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.27Rp 22.8K
$11.87MX$204
-89.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.19Rp 164.7K
$42.90MX$736
-78.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.39Rp 60.8K
$10.65MX$183
-68.17%
Cappuccino
$1.55Rp 27.8K
$3.45MX$59.2
-55.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49Rp 8,739
$1.50MX$25.81
-67.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25Rp 4,436
$0.95MX$16.28
-73.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.78Rp 49.8K
$3.03MX$51.9
-8.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63Rp 65.0K
$4.61MX$79.1
-21.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cimahi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17Rp 20.9K
$1.38MX$23.61
-15.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.10Rp 19.7K
$1.85MX$31.70
-40.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87Rp 15.6K
$1.61MX$27.65
-45.96%
Eggs
$1.60Rp 28.7K
$2.59MX$44.51
-38.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.62Rp 118.7K
$8.26MX$142
-19.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.99Rp 53.5K
$8.37MX$144
-64.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.52Rp 134.7K
$10.66MX$183
-29.46%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39Rp 42.9K
$2.63MX$45.12
-9.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.29Rp 23.2K
$1.49MX$25.53
-13.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71Rp 30.6K
$1.92MX$32.94
-10.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56Rp 28.0K
$2.09MX$35.81
-25.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.48Rp 26.5K
$1.86MX$31.88
-20.43%
Onion(1kg)
$2.62Rp 46.9K
$2.26MX$38.81
15.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.95Rp 17.0K
$1.06MX$18.23
-10.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43Rp 7,629
$1.09MX$18.67
-60.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52Rp 45.1K
$4.15MX$71.2
-39.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.32Rp 382.0K
$10.39MX$178
105.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02Rp 36.1K
$1.72MX$29.59
17.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18Rp 57.1K
$2.61MX$44.85
21.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Cimahi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,802
$0.54MX$9.30
-40.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.10Rp 181.0K
$26.94MX$462
-62.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.54Rp 9,601
$3.13MX$53.7
-82.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37Rp 6,703
$2.51MX$43.09
-85.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.55Rp 45.6K
$3.15MX$54.1
-19.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76Rp 13.7K
$1.27MX$21.88
-40.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2KRp 433.6M
$30.4KMX$521.3K
-20.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KRp 461.5M
$23.6KMX$404.5K
9.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cimahi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.30Rp 793.8K
$83.0MX$1,425
-46.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.55Rp 81.5K
$22.71MX$390
-79.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.74Rp 407.4K
$29.46MX$506
-22.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cimahi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.21Rp 415.8K
$51.0MX$875
-54.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.26Rp 112.2K
$18.33MX$315
-65.85%
Cinema Ticket
$3.02Rp 54.1K
$4.93MX$84.5
-38.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cimahi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.4Rp 1.7M
$197MX$3,386
-52.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,733Rp 138.5M
$5,280MX$90.6K
46.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cimahi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.42Rp 759.9K
$36.90MX$633
14.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.25Rp 559.9K
$39.89MX$685
-21.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.1Rp 1.1M
$80.0MX$1,373
-26.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.5Rp 1.2M
$89.5MX$1,536
-27.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cimahi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$260Rp 4.7M
$956MX$16.4K
-72.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$155Rp 2.8M
$477MX$8,189
-67.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$582Rp 10.4M
$1,646MX$28.3K
-64.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$338Rp 6.1M
$1,225MX$21.0K
-72.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,918MX$67.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,459MX$110.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cimahi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$250Rp 4.5M
$667MX$11.4K
-62.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
11.42
-19.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cimahi: June 7, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $260 in Cimahi and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 166% 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: $9.00 in Cimahi vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $202 vs $250 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 102% 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 Playa del Carmen?
On paper, Playa del Carmen earns 166% less. 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $260 in Cimahi versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Cimahi vs Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Cimahi runs roughly 167% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Cimahi and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $93.4 in Cimahi versus $197 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Cimahi or Playa del Carmen?
At $629 in Cimahi versus $1,271 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 $629 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 102% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.