🙂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: Depok63% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.27Rp 22.8K
$11.99MX$210
-89.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.26Rp 219.9K
$41.78MX$733
-70.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.46Rp 62.1K
$10.75MX$189
-67.81%
Cappuccino
$1.51Rp 27.1K
$3.50MX$61.3
-56.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51Rp 9,220
$1.45MX$25.41
-64.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25Rp 4,481
$0.88MX$15.52
-71.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.70Rp 48.5K
$2.95MX$51.7
-8.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.34Rp 77.9K
$4.51MX$79.1
-3.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18Rp 21.2K
$1.43MX$25.12
-17.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.11Rp 20.0K
$1.84MX$32.23
-39.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93Rp 16.7K
$1.57MX$27.51
-40.76%
Eggs
$1.59Rp 28.4K
$2.51MX$44.06
-36.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.48Rp 116.3K
$8.28MX$145
-21.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.14Rp 56.4K
$8.43MX$148
-62.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.75Rp 139.1K
$10.68MX$187
-27.43%
Apples(1kg)
$2.49Rp 44.6K
$2.61MX$45.76
-4.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.30Rp 23.3K
$1.44MX$25.22
-9.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70Rp 30.5K
$1.96MX$34.41
-13.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55Rp 27.9K
$2.09MX$36.74
-25.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.41Rp 25.4K
$1.85MX$32.47
-23.78%
Onion(1kg)
$2.56Rp 45.9K
$2.17MX$38.02
17.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88Rp 15.9K
$1.03MX$18.09
-14.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,262
$1.07MX$18.84
-57.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.63Rp 47.1K
$4.10MX$72.0
-35.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.23Rp 380.8K
$10.17MX$178
108.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18Rp 39.1K
$1.68MX$29.38
29.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23Rp 57.9K
$2.53MX$44.31
27.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24Rp 4,267
$0.51MX$8.93
-52.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.19Rp 164.9K
$26.04MX$457
-64.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.72Rp 13.0K
$3.23MX$56.7
-77.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37Rp 6,691
$2.41MX$42.19
-84.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.54Rp 45.5K
$3.23MX$56.6
-21.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83Rp 14.8K
$1.32MX$23.17
-37.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KRp 545.1M
$29.7KMX$520.9K
2.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4KRp 580.5M
$23.7KMX$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)
$44.62Rp 800.5K
$82.0MX$1,439
-45.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.45Rp 79.9K
$22.95MX$403
-80.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.38Rp 491.2K
$30.11MX$528
-9.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$9.30Rp 166.9K
$52.0MX$912
-82.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.21Rp 75.5K
$18.53MX$325
-77.28%
Cinema Ticket
$3.10Rp 55.6K
$4.98MX$87.3
-37.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.8Rp 1.7M
$197MX$3,463
-51.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,710Rp 138.3M
$5,336MX$93.6K
44.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.07Rp 736.8K
$35.60MX$624
15.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.91Rp 554.5K
$40.33MX$707
-23.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.4Rp 1.0M
$78.8MX$1,381
-25.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.3Rp 1.2M
$88.9MX$1,560
-26.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$117Rp 2.1M
$947MX$16.6K
-87.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$46.01Rp 825.4K
$474MX$8,314
-90.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$185Rp 3.3M
$1,644MX$28.8K
-88.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$124Rp 2.2M
$1,211MX$21.2K
-89.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$819Rp 14.7M
$4,056MX$71.1K
-79.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$691Rp 12.4M
$6,470MX$113.5K
-89.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$349Rp 6.3M
$654MX$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.