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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $904 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,330 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,516 in Denpasar, Bali versus $2,336 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,128 in Denpasar, Bali versus $3,341 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Denpasar, Bali costs roughly 32% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Denpasar, Bali 34% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.22 Rp 39.5K

$13.02 MX$221

-82.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.63 Rp 455.6K

$46.25 MX$784

-44.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.59 Rp 63.8K

$12.59 MX$213

-71.49%

Cappuccino

$1.75 Rp 31.1K

$4.00 MX$67.9

-56.25%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 Rp 20.0K

$1.42 MX$24.08

-21.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 Rp 8,553

$0.81 MX$13.73

-40.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 Rp 31.2K

$3.05 MX$51.7

-42.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 Rp 50.5K

$6.82 MX$116

-58.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 Rp 23.2K

$1.71 MX$29.04

-23.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.85 Rp 32.9K

$2.22 MX$37.62

-16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.84 Rp 15.0K

$1.72 MX$29.13

-51.16%

Eggs

$1.75 Rp 31.1K

$2.71 MX$45.99

-35.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.26 Rp 253.5K

$9.37 MX$159

52.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 Rp 57.7K

$8.86 MX$150

-63.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.77 Rp 173.6K

$12.78 MX$217

-23.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.90 Rp 51.5K

$3.13 MX$53.0

-7.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 Rp 23.1K

$1.55 MX$26.24

-16.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 Rp 32.7K

$2.15 MX$36.51

-14.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.65 Rp 29.3K

$2.35 MX$39.89

-29.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.51 Rp 26.9K

$2.02 MX$34.23

-25.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.76 Rp 31.4K

$1.99 MX$33.67

-11.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 Rp 14.8K

$1.24 MX$21.09

-33.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 Rp 7,424

$1.19 MX$20.21

-64.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.85 Rp 32.9K

$4.65 MX$78.8

-60.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.92 Rp 336.4K

$10.47 MX$177

80.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 Rp 34.2K

$1.58 MX$26.82

21.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 Rp 41.4K

$2.92 MX$49.48

-20.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 Rp 3,885

$0.56 MX$9.53

-60.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.41 Rp 131.8K

$29.76 MX$504

-75.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.43 Rp 7,587

$5.32 MX$90.2

-91.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,594

$3.72 MX$63.0

-88.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 Rp 53.9K

$5.78 MX$97.9

-47.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 Rp 12.0K

$1.55 MX$26.27

-56.77%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.1K Rp 393.7M

$22.4K MX$379.1K

-0.99%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.2K Rp 501.8M

$25.6K MX$433.3K

10.41%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$73.5 Rp 1.3M

$89.3 MX$1,513

-17.67%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$5.84 Rp 103.7K

$23.30 MX$395

-74.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.79 Rp 298.4K

$31.72 MX$538

-47.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.72 Rp 705.9K

$68.8 MX$1,165

-42.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.98 Rp 230.7K

$29.40 MX$498

-55.85%

Cinema Ticket

$3.14 Rp 55.8K

$5.06 MX$85.7

-37.94%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$382 Rp 6.8M

$222 MX$3,765

71.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,482 Rp 79.7M

$4,293 MX$72.7K

4.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.48 Rp 701.6K

$46.21 MX$783

-14.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.40 Rp 540.3K

$44.43 MX$753

-31.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.0 Rp 1.2M

$95.5 MX$1,618

-28.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.5 Rp 1.2M

$92.5 MX$1,568

-27.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$596 Rp 10.6M

$1,069 MX$18.1K

-44.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$359 Rp 6.4M

$393 MX$6,663

-8.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,828 Rp 32.5M

$1,988 MX$33.7K

-8.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$903 Rp 16.0M

$1,304 MX$22.1K

-30.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,460 Rp 25.9M

$4,037 MX$68.4K

-63.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,180 Rp 21.0M

$6,627 MX$112.3K

-82.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$276 Rp 4.9M

$747 MX$12.7K

-62.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

11.6

18.79%

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

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: August 17, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $596 in Denpasar, Bali and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 170% 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: $26.00 in Denpasar, Bali vs $46.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $237 vs $277 per month, with Denpasar, Bali 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

Denpasar, Bali vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Denpasar, Bali and Playa del Carmen differ by about 47% in total monthly costs ($904 vs $1,330 including rent). Denpasar, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 170% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $596 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $904 per month in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,330 in Playa del Carmen – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Denpasar, Bali runs roughly 302% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $904 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,330 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Denpasar, Bali but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Denpasar, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Denpasar, Bali 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.

Expats usually find Denpasar, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.