Cost of Living Comparison Between Depok and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Depok and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $498 in Depok versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $797 in Depok versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,097 in Depok versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Depok costs roughly 60% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Depok 63% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.27 Rp 22.8K
$11.99 MX$210
-89.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.26 Rp 219.9K
$41.78 MX$733
-70.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.46 Rp 62.1K
$10.75 MX$189
-67.81%
Cappuccino
$1.51 Rp 27.1K
$3.50 MX$61.3
-56.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,220
$1.45 MX$25.41
-64.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 Rp 4,481
$0.88 MX$15.52
-71.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.70 Rp 48.5K
$2.95 MX$51.7
-8.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.34 Rp 77.9K
$4.51 MX$79.1
-3.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
$1.43 MX$25.12
-17.48%
White Bread (500g)
$1.11 Rp 20.0K
$1.84 MX$32.23
-39.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.93 Rp 16.7K
$1.57 MX$27.51
-40.76%
Eggs
$1.59 Rp 28.4K
$2.51 MX$44.06
-36.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.48 Rp 116.3K
$8.28 MX$145
-21.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.14 Rp 56.4K
$8.43 MX$148
-62.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.75 Rp 139.1K
$10.68 MX$187
-27.43%
Apples (1kg)
$2.49 Rp 44.6K
$2.61 MX$45.76
-4.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.30 Rp 23.3K
$1.44 MX$25.22
-9.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 Rp 30.5K
$1.96 MX$34.41
-13.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 27.9K
$2.09 MX$36.74
-25.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.41 Rp 25.4K
$1.85 MX$32.47
-23.78%
Onion (1kg)
$2.56 Rp 45.9K
$2.17 MX$38.02
17.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.88 Rp 15.9K
$1.03 MX$18.09
-14.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46 Rp 8,262
$1.07 MX$18.84
-57.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.63 Rp 47.1K
$4.10 MX$72.0
-35.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.23 Rp 380.8K
$10.17 MX$178
108.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 Rp 39.1K
$1.68 MX$29.38
29.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 Rp 57.9K
$2.53 MX$44.31
27.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 Rp 4,267
$0.51 MX$8.93
-52.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.19 Rp 164.9K
$26.04 MX$457
-64.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.72 Rp 13.0K
$3.23 MX$56.7
-77.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 Rp 6,691
$2.41 MX$42.19
-84.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.54 Rp 45.5K
$3.23 MX$56.6
-21.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 14.8K
$1.32 MX$23.17
-37.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K Rp 545.1M
$29.7K MX$520.9K
2.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K Rp 580.5M
$23.7K MX$415.0K
36.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$44.62 Rp 800.5K
$82.0 MX$1,439
-45.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.45 Rp 79.9K
$22.95 MX$403
-80.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.38 Rp 491.2K
$30.11 MX$528
-9.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$9.30 Rp 166.9K
$52.0 MX$912
-82.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.21 Rp 75.5K
$18.53 MX$325
-77.28%
Cinema Ticket
$3.10 Rp 55.6K
$4.98 MX$87.3
-37.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$94.8 Rp 1.7M
$197 MX$3,463
-51.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,710 Rp 138.3M
$5,336 MX$93.6K
44.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.07 Rp 736.8K
$35.60 MX$624
15.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.91 Rp 554.5K
$40.33 MX$707
-23.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$58.4 Rp 1.0M
$78.8 MX$1,381
-25.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.3 Rp 1.2M
$88.9 MX$1,560
-26.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$117 Rp 2.1M
$947 MX$16.6K
-87.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$46.01 Rp 825.4K
$474 MX$8,314
-90.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$185 Rp 3.3M
$1,644 MX$28.8K
-88.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$124 Rp 2.2M
$1,211 MX$21.2K
-89.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$819 Rp 14.7M
$4,056 MX$71.1K
-79.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$691 Rp 12.4M
$6,470 MX$113.5K
-89.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$349 Rp 6.3M
$654 MX$11.5K
-46.68%
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 Depok: July 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $117 in Depok and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 88% 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: $12.00 in Depok vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $249 per month, with Depok 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
Depok vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Depok or Playa del Carmen?
Depok wins on cost – living expenses run 152% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Depok the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Depok or in Playa del Carmen?
On paper, salaries run 88% 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 Depok compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $117 in Depok versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Depok or in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Depok and in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Depok – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Depok or in Playa del Carmen?
At $498 in Depok versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Depok but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Depok the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Depok or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Depok delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $498 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Depok hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Depok gentler on the wallet – expenses run 152% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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