🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $539 in Depok versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $811 in Depok versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,082 in Depok versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Depok costs roughly 57% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Depok61% lower, Playa del Carmen7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.44Rp 25.6K
$11.60MX$199
-87.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.16Rp 251.3K
$47.11MX$809
-69.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.44Rp 61.0K
$11.88MX$204
-71.04%
Cappuccino
$1.50Rp 26.7K
$3.98MX$68.2
-62.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 8,012
$1.43MX$24.49
-68.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,638
$0.82MX$14.16
-68.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.71Rp 48.2K
$3.19MX$54.7
-15.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19Rp 56.7K
$6.79MX$117
-53.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27Rp 22.5K
$1.68MX$28.76
-24.40%
White Bread(500g)
$1.04Rp 18.4K
$2.20MX$37.71
-52.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87Rp 15.4K
$1.71MX$29.32
-49.12%
Eggs
$1.54Rp 27.3K
$2.74MX$47.05
-43.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.37Rp 130.8K
$9.58MX$164
-23.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.89Rp 51.3K
$9.01MX$155
-67.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.81Rp 138.6K
$12.81MX$220
-39.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24Rp 39.8K
$2.89MX$49.58
-22.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.12Rp 19.8K
$1.50MX$25.70
-25.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.55Rp 27.6K
$2.15MX$36.87
-27.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.95Rp 16.9K
$2.26MX$38.79
-57.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.06Rp 18.9K
$1.98MX$34.00
-46.46%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00Rp 35.5K
$1.99MX$34.15
0.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.65Rp 11.5K
$1.23MX$21.18
-47.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44Rp 7,724
$1.20MX$20.54
-63.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.77Rp 49.2K
$4.55MX$78.1
-39.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.29Rp 377.9K
$10.37MX$178
105.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86Rp 33.1K
$1.62MX$27.79
14.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13Rp 55.5K
$2.88MX$49.44
8.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.22Rp 3,890
$0.60MX$10.30
-63.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$13.18Rp 233.8K
$28.80MX$494
-54.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.86Rp 15.3K
$5.39MX$92.5
-84.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35Rp 6,218
$3.73MX$64.0
-90.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.28Rp 40.5K
$5.77MX$99.0
-60.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79Rp 14.1K
$1.54MX$26.37
-48.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5KRp 380.8M
$22.5KMX$387.0K
-4.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.4KRp 521.2M
$26.1KMX$447.3K
12.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$34.60Rp 614.1K
$91.4MX$1,569
-62.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.34Rp 77.1K
$25.20MX$433
-82.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.30Rp 342.5K
$31.24MX$536
-38.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$3.35Rp 59.5K
$67.2MX$1,154
-95.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.64Rp 100.1K
$29.11MX$500
-80.63%
Cinema Ticket
$2.90Rp 51.4K
$4.86MX$83.5
-40.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.8Rp 1.7M
$224MX$3,839
-58.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,237Rp 146.2M
$4,229MX$72.6K
94.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.47Rp 807.0K
$47.10MX$808
-3.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.02Rp 515.1K
$44.29MX$760
-34.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.2Rp 1.3M
$80.1MX$1,375
-8.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.4Rp 1.3M
$92.7MX$1,591
-21.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$214Rp 3.8M
$1,063MX$18.2K
-79.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$107Rp 1.9M
$390MX$6,698
-72.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$258Rp 4.6M
$2,149MX$36.9K
-87.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$143Rp 2.5M
$1,272MX$21.8K
-88.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,001MX$68.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,502MX$111.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$230Rp 4.1M
$758MX$13.0K
-69.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.46
11.45
-17.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Depok: September 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $214 in Depok and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 230% 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: $14.00 in Depok vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 vs $276 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 135% 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 230% 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: $214 in Depok versus $1,063 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 42% 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 $14.00 versus $47.00 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 $539 in Depok versus $1,266 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 $539 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 135% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.