๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,348 in Jimbaran, Bali versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,423 in Jimbaran, Bali versus $2,130 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,497 in Jimbaran, Bali versus $2,999 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Living in Jimbaran, Bali is roughly 7% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Jimbaran, Bali is 1% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Jimbaran, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.43Rpย 58.7K
$11.67MX$202
-70.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.68Rpย 542.6K
$41.88MX$725
-24.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.85Rpย 83.1K
$10.40MX$180
-53.37%
Cappuccino
$2.61Rpย 44.8K
$3.61MX$62.6
-27.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28Rpย 22.0K
$1.47MX$25.44
-12.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66Rpย 11.3K
$0.91MX$15.79
-27.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.90Rpย 49.7K
$3.03MX$52.5
-4.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74Rpย 64.1K
$4.47MX$77.4
-16.33%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Jimbaran, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71Rpย 29.3K
$1.38MX$23.82
23.91%
White Bread(500g)
$2.41Rpย 41.3K
$1.84MX$31.91
30.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14Rpย 19.5K
$1.61MX$27.80
-29.19%
Eggs
$2.27Rpย 39.0K
$2.57MX$44.49
-11.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.67Rpย 234.2K
$8.49MX$147
61.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.06Rpย 69.5K
$8.49MX$147
-52.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.47Rpย 196.5K
$10.99MX$190
4.37%
Apples(1kg)
$3.47Rpย 59.5K
$2.73MX$47.23
27.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.54Rpย 26.4K
$1.50MX$25.90
2.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.67Rpย 45.7K
$1.96MX$33.91
36.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16Rpย 37.0K
$2.12MX$36.68
1.89%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83Rpย 31.4K
$1.86MX$32.28
-1.61%
Onion(1kg)
$2.20Rpย 37.7K
$2.17MX$37.65
1.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02Rpย 17.5K
$1.07MX$18.58
-4.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69Rpย 11.9K
$1.05MX$18.17
-34.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.03Rpย 51.9K
$4.19MX$72.6
-27.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.26Rpย 381.2K
$10.28MX$178
116.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.62Rpย 44.8K
$1.67MX$28.85
56.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60Rpย 44.5K
$2.49MX$43.09
4.42%
๐ Getting Around
Jimbaran, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28Rpย 4,780
$0.54MX$9.37
-48.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.53Rpย 146.1K
$26.27MX$455
-67.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.47Rpย 8,120
$3.10MX$53.8
-84.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rpย 7,622
$2.46MX$42.64
-81.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.41Rpย 109.8K
$3.24MX$56.0
97.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83Rpย 14.2K
$1.26MX$21.82
-34.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.0KRpย 462.6M
$30.2KMX$522.5K
-10.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.3KRpย 587.7M
$23.4KMX$406.1K
46.35%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jimbaran, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.0Rpย 1.4M
$84.0MX$1,455
-5.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06Rpย 69.5K
$22.21MX$385
-81.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.05Rpย 411.9K
$29.65MX$514
-18.89%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Jimbaran, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$88.7Rpย 1.5M
$52.6MX$912
68.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.97Rpย 102.2K
$18.34MX$318
-67.45%
Cinema Ticket
$3.62Rpย 62.1K
$4.95MX$85.7
-26.87%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Jimbaran, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$290Rpย 5.0M
$198MX$3,436
45.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,319Rpย 108.2M
$5,322MX$92.2K
18.75%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Jimbaran, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.0Rpย 889.7K
$35.95MX$623
44.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.15Rpย 636.2K
$40.06MX$694
-7.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.0Rpย 1.4M
$78.8MX$1,365
5.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.4Rpย 1.2M
$86.5MX$1,498
-16.30%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Jimbaran, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$944Rpย 16.2M
$977MX$16.9K
-3.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$645Rpย 11.0M
$471MX$8,153
36.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,209Rpย 55.0M
$1,595MX$27.6K
101.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009Rpย 34.4M
$1,215MX$21.0K
65.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,935Rpย 50.3M
$4,032MX$69.8K
-27.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,269Rpย 38.9M
$6,579MX$113.9K
-65.50%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Jimbaran, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$714MX$12.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
11.42
16.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jimbaran, Bali: April 21, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $944 in Jimbaran, Bali and $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $32 in Jimbaran, Bali vs $42 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $284 vs $252, with Playa del Carmen cheaper for home cooking.
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
Jimbaran, Bali vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Jimbaran, Bali?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,023 in Jimbaran, Bali and $1,891 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Jimbaran, Bali and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $944 in Jimbaran, Bali versus $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $290 in Jimbaran, Bali versus $198 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Jimbaran, Bali and Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Jimbaran, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Jimbaran, Bali or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,348 in Jimbaran, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Jimbaran, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Jimbaran, Bali or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Jimbaran, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Jimbaran, Bali or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Jimbaran, 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 7% less than in Jimbaran, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Jimbaran, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared