🙂A single person spends $675 per month in Kalimantan vs $1,294 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,020 per month in Kalimantan vs $2,189 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,365 per month in Kalimantan vs $3,084 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Kalimantan is about 48% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Kalimantan and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Kalimantan49% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kalimantan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.52Rp 27.0K
$11.73MX$202
-87.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.40Rp 219.7K
$41.78MX$719
-70.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.45Rp 61.1K
$10.41MX$179
-66.86%
Cappuccino
$1.64Rp 29.1K
$3.61MX$62.1
-54.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,701
$1.46MX$25.06
-62.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 4,964
$0.97MX$16.70
-71.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43Rp 43.1K
$2.92MX$50.3
-16.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50Rp 61.9K
$4.62MX$79.5
-24.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kalimantan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18Rp 20.9K
$1.43MX$24.59
-17.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.18Rp 20.9K
$1.90MX$32.70
-37.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.94Rp 16.6K
$1.57MX$26.95
-40.13%
Eggs
$1.53Rp 27.1K
$2.64MX$45.34
-42.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.95Rp 140.9K
$8.44MX$145
-5.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.08Rp 54.5K
$8.58MX$148
-64.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.02Rp 142.2K
$11.00MX$189
-27.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.40Rp 42.5K
$2.70MX$46.51
-11.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46Rp 25.8K
$1.51MX$25.92
-3.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.83Rp 32.4K
$1.91MX$32.93
-4.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57Rp 27.8K
$2.17MX$37.37
-27.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33Rp 23.6K
$1.87MX$32.25
-28.88%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89Rp 33.5K
$2.23MX$38.43
-15.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90Rp 15.9K
$1.08MX$18.60
-16.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,378
$1.07MX$18.47
-60.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.54Rp 45.0K
$4.16MX$71.6
-38.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.46Rp 326.9K
$10.29MX$177
79.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12Rp 37.6K
$1.68MX$28.95
26.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23Rp 57.3K
$2.53MX$43.59
27.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Kalimantan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,675
$0.55MX$9.53
-41.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.93Rp 175.9K
$26.29MX$452
-62.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.54Rp 9,555
$3.20MX$55.0
-83.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37Rp 6,627
$2.46MX$42.37
-84.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.94Rp 52.1K
$3.20MX$55.0
-8.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76Rp 13.5K
$1.32MX$22.72
-42.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4KRp 432.0M
$30.2KMX$518.8K
-19.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0KRp 495.4M
$23.4KMX$402.5K
19.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalimantan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.1Rp 1.2M
$81.4MX$1,400
-15.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.29Rp 75.9K
$22.41MX$386
-80.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.04Rp 408.2K
$29.97MX$516
-23.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kalimantan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.24Rp 411.7K
$51.6MX$887
-54.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.31Rp 111.7K
$18.39MX$316
-65.69%
Cinema Ticket
$3.14Rp 55.6K
$5.16MX$88.9
-39.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kalimantan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.5Rp 1.7M
$202MX$3,471
-53.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,736Rp 137.0M
$5,311MX$91.4K
45.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kalimantan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.07Rp 727.6K
$35.61MX$613
15.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.59Rp 541.8K
$40.37MX$695
-24.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.5Rp 1.2M
$78.6MX$1,353
-14.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.2Rp 1.3M
$86.9MX$1,495
-14.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kalimantan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$259Rp 4.6M
$950MX$16.3K
-72.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$157Rp 2.8M
$478MX$8,227
-67.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$591Rp 10.5M
$1,621MX$27.9K
-63.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$338Rp 6.0M
$1,223MX$21.0K
-72.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,161Rp 20.6M
$4,009MX$69.0K
-71.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$640Rp 11.3M
$6,473MX$111.4K
-90.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kalimantan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$673MX$11.6K
-
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 Kalimantan: June 14, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $259 in Kalimantan versus $950 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Kalimantan versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $254 – making Kalimantan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Kalimantan vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Kalimantan?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 92%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,012 per month in Kalimantan and $1,941 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kalimantan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Kalimantan or Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Kalimantan and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Kalimantan vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $675 in Kalimantan and $1,294 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Kalimantan or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kalimantan, where all-in costs run around $675, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,294. In Kalimantan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Kalimantan or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kalimantan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kalimantan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Kalimantan vs other spots: cost of living compared