Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuta, Bali and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living costs are similar in Kuta, Bali and in Playa del Carmen: $1,212 and $1,204 a month, rent and utilities included.

Kuta, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,212
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kuta, Bali and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kuta, Bali and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,212 per month in Kuta, Bali vs $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Kuta, Bali $1,212
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

A couple spends around $2,042 per month in Kuta, Bali vs $2,102 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Kuta, Bali $2,042
  • Playa del Carmen $2,102

A family of three spends $2,872 per month in Kuta, Bali vs $3,000 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Kuta, Bali $2,872
  • Playa del Carmen $3,000

Kuta, Bali costs about 1% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Kuta, Bali and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Kuta, Bali 11% lower, Playa del Carmen 11% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kuta, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.97 Rp 53.5K
$10.86 MX$201
-72.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.91 Rp 556.3K
$44.21 MX$817
-30.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.02 Rp 90.3K
$11.76 MX$217
-57.31%
Cappuccino
$2.37 Rp 42.6K
$3.68 MX$68.0
-35.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 Rp 26.0K
$1.34 MX$24.79
7.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 Rp 11.9K
$0.82 MX$15.24
-19.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.29 Rp 41.3K
$3.06 MX$56.6
-25.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90 Rp 70.2K
$4.94 MX$91.2
-21.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kuta, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 Rp 25.9K
$1.47 MX$27.17
-2.04%
White Bread (500g)
$2.10 Rp 37.7K
$2.22 MX$40.95
-5.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 Rp 20.9K
$1.48 MX$27.32
-21.62%
Eggs
$2.03 Rp 36.6K
$2.49 MX$45.99
-18.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.43 Rp 295.8K
$7.52 MX$139
118.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.72 Rp 66.9K
$7.96 MX$147
-53.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.63 Rp 209.3K
$12.57 MX$232
-7.48%
Apples (1kg)
$3.37 Rp 60.7K
$2.78 MX$51.3
21.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 27.3K
$1.43 MX$26.37
6.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 Rp 39.0K
$2.62 MX$48.37
-17.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.83 Rp 32.9K
$2.14 MX$39.49
-14.49%
Potato (1kg)
$1.75 Rp 31.5K
$2.02 MX$37.38
-13.37%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
$1.99 MX$36.74
14.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 17.8K
$1.14 MX$21.01
-13.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,228
$1.20 MX$22.18
-57.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.12 Rp 38.2K
$4.26 MX$78.7
-50.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.73 Rp 391.1K
$10.02 MX$185
116.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25 Rp 40.5K
$1.54 MX$28.41
46.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 Rp 50.5K
$2.66 MX$49.17
5.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Kuta, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,476
$0.53 MX$9.73
-52.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.75 Rp 157.5K
$27.51 MX$508
-68.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.49 Rp 8,779
$4.90 MX$90.6
-90.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.48 Rp 8,665
$3.43 MX$63.5
-86.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.69 Rp 48.5K
$5.38 MX$99.4
-50.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.93 Rp 16.7K
$1.45 MX$26.76
-35.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 469.9M
$21.2K MX$391.0K
23.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.9K Rp 646.9M
$23.0K MX$425.3K
56.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuta, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.0 Rp 1.4M
$85.4 MX$1,577
-6.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.35 Rp 114.2K
$23.46 MX$434
-72.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.42 Rp 331.5K
$28.43 MX$525
-35.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kuta, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.47 Rp 872.5K
$62.2 MX$1,149
-22.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.64 Rp 281.5K
$28.68 MX$530
-45.47%
Cinema Ticket
$3.85 Rp 69.2K
$5.10 MX$94.3
-24.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kuta, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$448 Rp 8.1M
$201 MX$3,715
122.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,127 Rp 92.3M
$3,947 MX$72.9K
29.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kuta, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.03 Rp 810.6K
$44.39 MX$820
1.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.68 Rp 624.2K
$41.35 MX$764
-16.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.5 Rp 1.4M
$72.7 MX$1,344
9.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.1 Rp 1.4M
$89.6 MX$1,656
-13.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kuta, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$919 Rp 16.5M
$979 MX$18.1K
-6.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$563 Rp 10.1M
$373 MX$6,887
50.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,936 Rp 52.8M
$1,681 MX$31.1K
74.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 Rp 25.5M
$1,095 MX$20.2K
29.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,244 Rp 40.4M
$3,949 MX$73.0K
-43.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,869 Rp 33.6M
$6,137 MX$113.4K
-69.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kuta, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$738 MX$13.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
11.45
20.35%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kuta, Bali: October 20, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kuta, Bali
$563
Playa del Carmen
$373 33.7% $190
Groceries & Markets
Kuta, Bali
$275
Playa del Carmen
$258 6% $16
Clothing & Footwear
Kuta, Bali
$106
Playa del Carmen
$112 5% $5.3
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuta, Bali
$105
Playa del Carmen
$137 31% $32
Eating Out
Kuta, Bali
$95
Playa del Carmen
$200 111% $105
Sport & Entertainment
Kuta, Bali
$56
Playa del Carmen
$72 28.9% $16
Getting Around
Kuta, Bali
$13
Playa del Carmen
$52 309% $39

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $919 in Kuta, Bali versus $979 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 $31.00 in Kuta, Bali versus $44.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $275 in Kuta, Bali vs $258 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Kuta, Bali
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
11:09 11:09 AM
22:09 10:09 PM
13 h behind Kuta, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
57,304
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kuta, Bali Playa del Carmen 17,290 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kuta, Bali
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Kuta, Bali vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kuta, Bali or Playa del Carmen?
Kuta, Bali costs about 1% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kuta, Bali and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,818 per month in Kuta, Bali and $1,806 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kuta, Bali or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Kuta, Bali and in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Kuta, Bali and $44.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Kuta, Bali compared to Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,212 in Kuta, Bali and $1,204 in Playa del Carmen. That's a gap of about 1%.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Kuta, Bali or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Kuta, Bali at $1,212. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kuta, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kuta, Bali or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,204 versus $1,212 in Kuta, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Kuta, Bali or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kuta, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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