Cost of Living Comparison Between Kalimantan and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Kalimantan and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Kalimantan 49% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kalimantan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.52 Rp 27.0K
$11.73 MX$202
-87.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.40 Rp 219.7K
$41.78 MX$719
-70.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.45 Rp 61.1K
$10.41 MX$179
-66.86%
Cappuccino
$1.64 Rp 29.1K
$3.61 MX$62.1
-54.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,701
$1.46 MX$25.06
-62.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 Rp 4,964
$0.97 MX$16.70
-71.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 Rp 43.1K
$2.92 MX$50.3
-16.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50 Rp 61.9K
$4.62 MX$79.5
-24.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kalimantan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 Rp 20.9K
$1.43 MX$24.59
-17.48%
White Bread (500g)
$1.18 Rp 20.9K
$1.90 MX$32.70
-37.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.94 Rp 16.6K
$1.57 MX$26.95
-40.13%
Eggs
$1.53 Rp 27.1K
$2.64 MX$45.34
-42.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.95 Rp 140.9K
$8.44 MX$145
-5.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.08 Rp 54.5K
$8.58 MX$148
-64.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.02 Rp 142.2K
$11.00 MX$189
-27.09%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 Rp 42.5K
$2.70 MX$46.51
-11.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 Rp 25.8K
$1.51 MX$25.92
-3.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.83 Rp 32.4K
$1.91 MX$32.93
-4.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 27.8K
$2.17 MX$37.37
-27.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.33 Rp 23.6K
$1.87 MX$32.25
-28.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 Rp 33.5K
$2.23 MX$38.43
-15.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 Rp 15.9K
$1.08 MX$18.60
-16.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42 Rp 7,378
$1.07 MX$18.47
-60.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.54 Rp 45.0K
$4.16 MX$71.6
-38.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.46 Rp 326.9K
$10.29 MX$177
79.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12 Rp 37.6K
$1.68 MX$28.95
26.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 Rp 57.3K
$2.53 MX$43.59
27.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Kalimantan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 Rp 5,675
$0.55 MX$9.53
-41.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.93 Rp 175.9K
$26.29 MX$452
-62.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.54 Rp 9,555
$3.20 MX$55.0
-83.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 Rp 6,627
$2.46 MX$42.37
-84.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.94 Rp 52.1K
$3.20 MX$55.0
-8.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 Rp 13.5K
$1.32 MX$22.72
-42.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K Rp 432.0M
$30.2K MX$518.8K
-19.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0K Rp 495.4M
$23.4K MX$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)
$69.1 Rp 1.2M
$81.4 MX$1,400
-15.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.29 Rp 75.9K
$22.41 MX$386
-80.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.04 Rp 408.2K
$29.97 MX$516
-23.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kalimantan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.24 Rp 411.7K
$51.6 MX$887
-54.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.31 Rp 111.7K
$18.39 MX$316
-65.69%
Cinema Ticket
$3.14 Rp 55.6K
$5.16 MX$88.9
-39.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kalimantan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$93.5 Rp 1.7M
$202 MX$3,471
-53.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,736 Rp 137.0M
$5,311 MX$91.4K
45.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kalimantan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.07 Rp 727.6K
$35.61 MX$613
15.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.59 Rp 541.8K
$40.37 MX$695
-24.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.5 Rp 1.2M
$78.6 MX$1,353
-14.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.2 Rp 1.3M
$86.9 MX$1,495
-14.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kalimantan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$259 Rp 4.6M
$950 MX$16.3K
-72.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$157 Rp 2.8M
$478 MX$8,227
-67.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$591 Rp 10.5M
$1,621 MX$27.9K
-63.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$338 Rp 6.0M
$1,223 MX$21.0K
-72.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,161 Rp 20.6M
$4,009 MX$69.0K
-71.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$640 Rp 11.3M
$6,473 MX$111.4K
-90.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kalimantan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$673 MX$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.

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