🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $626 in Cimahi versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $963 in Cimahi versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,300 in Cimahi versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Cimahi costs roughly 50% 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 22.9K
$11.72MX$203
-89.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.43Rp 170.2K
$41.89MX$725
-77.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.44Rp 62.1K
$10.51MX$182
-67.27%
Cappuccino
$1.55Rp 28.0K
$3.59MX$62.0
-56.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52Rp 9,462
$1.51MX$26.10
-65.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27Rp 4,896
$0.92MX$15.83
-70.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.68Rp 48.4K
$2.96MX$51.2
-9.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60Rp 65.0K
$4.41MX$76.3
-18.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cimahi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22Rp 22.1K
$1.40MX$24.16
-12.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.11Rp 20.0K
$1.88MX$32.60
-40.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87Rp 15.7K
$1.56MX$26.97
-44.23%
Eggs
$1.52Rp 27.5K
$2.61MX$45.14
-41.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.58Rp 118.8K
$8.32MX$144
-20.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.00Rp 54.1K
$8.35MX$145
-64.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.87Rp 142.1K
$10.86MX$188
-27.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.27Rp 41.0K
$2.71MX$46.93
-16.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.28Rp 23.1K
$1.51MX$26.04
-15.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64Rp 29.6K
$1.87MX$32.41
-12.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55Rp 28.0K
$2.19MX$37.89
-29.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.43Rp 25.7K
$1.86MX$32.14
-23.12%
Onion(1kg)
$2.62Rp 47.4K
$2.23MX$38.59
17.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.91Rp 16.5K
$1.07MX$18.48
-14.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43Rp 7,680
$1.09MX$18.79
-60.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.60Rp 47.0K
$4.19MX$72.4
-37.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.67Rp 373.2K
$10.43MX$180
98.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03Rp 36.6K
$1.66MX$28.68
22.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19Rp 57.6K
$2.61MX$45.19
22.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Cimahi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,406
$0.54MX$9.37
-44.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.05Rp 181.5K
$26.16MX$453
-61.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.54Rp 9,744
$3.08MX$53.3
-82.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38Rp 6,809
$2.40MX$41.61
-84.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.50Rp 45.2K
$3.13MX$54.1
-20.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82Rp 14.8K
$1.31MX$22.69
-37.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2KRp 437.5M
$29.8KMX$515.7K
-18.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KRp 470.6M
$23.3KMX$403.5K
11.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cimahi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$43.95Rp 793.5K
$81.3MX$1,406
-45.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.58Rp 82.7K
$22.56MX$390
-79.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.97Rp 414.7K
$30.05MX$520
-23.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cimahi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.39Rp 422.2K
$52.9MX$915
-55.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.05Rp 109.3K
$18.39MX$318
-67.10%
Cinema Ticket
$3.08Rp 55.7K
$4.92MX$85.1
-37.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cimahi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.8Rp 1.7M
$201MX$3,474
-52.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,589Rp 137.0M
$5,175MX$89.5K
46.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cimahi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.30Rp 745.6K
$35.92MX$622
14.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.90Rp 557.9K
$40.13MX$694
-23.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.4Rp 1.1M
$79.7MX$1,379
-25.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.8Rp 1.2M
$86.5MX$1,496
-25.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cimahi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$261Rp 4.7M
$978MX$16.9K
-73.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$158Rp 2.9M
$470MX$8,140
-66.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$584Rp 10.5M
$1,651MX$28.6K
-64.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$333Rp 6.0M
$1,203MX$20.8K
-72.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,953MX$68.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,607MX$114.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cimahi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$245Rp 4.4M
$677MX$11.7K
-63.74%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $261 in Cimahi and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 176% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $201 vs $252 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 101% 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 176% 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: $261 in Cimahi versus $978 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 compared to Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Cimahi runs roughly 160% 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $94.8 in Cimahi versus $201 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 in Playa del Carmen?
At $626 in Cimahi versus $1,260 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 $626 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 101% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.