🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $515 in Depok versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $794 in Depok versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,074 in Depok versus $3,065 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: Depok62% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.26Rp 22.5K
$11.73MX$203
-89.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.07Rp 215.5K
$41.62MX$720
-71.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.44Rp 61.5K
$10.64MX$184
-67.67%
Cappuccino
$1.48Rp 26.4K
$3.52MX$60.9
-57.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,891
$1.51MX$26.12
-63.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25Rp 4,441
$0.97MX$16.84
-74.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.82Rp 50.3K
$2.95MX$51.0
-4.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32Rp 77.1K
$4.45MX$77.0
-2.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17Rp 20.8K
$1.38MX$23.93
-15.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.06Rp 19.0K
$1.89MX$32.72
-43.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.94Rp 16.8K
$1.64MX$28.32
-42.68%
Eggs
$1.57Rp 28.1K
$2.51MX$43.34
-37.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.28Rp 112.2K
$8.34MX$144
-24.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.13Rp 55.9K
$8.34MX$144
-62.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.96Rp 142.2K
$10.73MX$186
-25.82%
Apples(1kg)
$2.41Rp 43.1K
$2.60MX$45.04
-7.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.33Rp 23.7K
$1.46MX$25.20
-8.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64Rp 29.2K
$1.90MX$32.87
-13.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.51Rp 27.1K
$2.08MX$35.91
-27.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.46Rp 26.0K
$1.78MX$30.71
-17.98%
Onion(1kg)
$2.65Rp 47.4K
$2.19MX$37.80
21.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90Rp 16.1K
$1.04MX$17.99
-13.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,529
$1.08MX$18.62
-61.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.57Rp 45.8K
$4.08MX$70.6
-37.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.89Rp 373.0K
$10.32MX$178
102.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17Rp 38.7K
$1.71MX$29.61
26.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06Rp 54.6K
$2.58MX$44.54
18.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24Rp 4,282
$0.51MX$8.81
-52.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.29Rp 166.0K
$26.46MX$458
-64.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.72Rp 12.9K
$3.26MX$56.4
-77.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37Rp 6,650
$2.49MX$43.09
-85.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.51Rp 44.8K
$3.25MX$56.2
-22.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78Rp 13.9K
$1.31MX$22.61
-40.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KRp 538.7M
$30.3KMX$523.7K
-0.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5KRp 581.1M
$23.4KMX$405.3K
38.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$43.79Rp 782.0K
$82.9MX$1,433
-47.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.67Rp 83.3K
$22.22MX$384
-78.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.87Rp 479.9K
$29.34MX$507
-8.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$9.49Rp 169.5K
$51.6MX$893
-81.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.25Rp 75.9K
$18.32MX$317
-76.80%
Cinema Ticket
$3.01Rp 53.7K
$5.07MX$87.6
-40.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$92.2Rp 1.6M
$201MX$3,473
-54.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,508Rp 134.1M
$5,212MX$90.1K
44.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.10Rp 751.8K
$36.92MX$639
14.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.16Rp 556.5K
$39.79MX$688
-21.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.9Rp 1.1M
$78.5MX$1,357
-23.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.7Rp 1.1M
$87.1MX$1,506
-26.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$118Rp 2.1M
$973MX$16.8K
-87.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$46.93Rp 838.0K
$468MX$8,090
-89.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$182Rp 3.2M
$1,641MX$28.4K
-88.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$122Rp 2.2M
$1,221MX$21.1K
-89.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$842Rp 15.0M
$3,946MX$68.3K
-78.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$706Rp 12.6M
$6,498MX$112.4K
-89.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Depok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$359Rp 6.4M
$664MX$11.5K
-45.87%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Depok and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 85% 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 $202 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 Playa del Carmen?
On paper, Playa del Carmen earns 85% less. 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $118 in Depok versus $973 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 Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 23% 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 vs 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 Playa del Carmen?
At $515 in Depok versus $1,297 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 $515 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.