Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Kuta, Lombok: $701 a month against $1,202 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $6,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Kuta, Lombok, Indonesia
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Kuta, Lombok
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$701
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,202
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kuta, Lombok 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, Lombok and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $701 per month in Kuta, Lombok vs $1,202 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Kuta, Lombok $701
  • Playa del Carmen $1,202

A couple spends around $1,156 per month in Kuta, Lombok vs $2,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Kuta, Lombok $1,156
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

A family of three spends $1,610 per month in Kuta, Lombok vs $2,962 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Kuta, Lombok $1,610
  • Playa del Carmen $2,962

Kuta, Lombok is about 42% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Kuta, Lombok and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Kuta, Lombok 48% lower, Playa del Carmen 11% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kuta, Lombok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.61 Rp 29.2K
$10.67 MX$200
-84.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.13 Rp 310.1K
$43.80 MX$819
-60.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.85 Rp 51.6K
$11.79 MX$220
-75.83%
Cappuccino
$1.31 Rp 23.7K
$3.79 MX$70.8
-65.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 Rp 14.9K
$1.30 MX$24.26
-36.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 Rp 6,265
$0.83 MX$15.59
-57.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.31 Rp 23.7K
$3.15 MX$58.9
-58.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 Rp 39.7K
$4.93 MX$92.3
-55.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kuta, Lombok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 Rp 18.6K
$1.41 MX$26.35
-26.95%
White Bread (500g)
$1.53 Rp 27.7K
$2.20 MX$41.07
-30.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.73 Rp 13.3K
$1.47 MX$27.54
-50.34%
Eggs
$1.40 Rp 25.3K
$2.50 MX$46.70
-44.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.46 Rp 189.4K
$7.29 MX$136
43.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.67 Rp 48.3K
$7.95 MX$149
-66.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.56 Rp 136.8K
$12.86 MX$241
-41.21%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 Rp 42.5K
$2.90 MX$54.2
-18.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.02 Rp 18.5K
$1.38 MX$25.87
-26.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.4K
$2.49 MX$46.59
-36.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.27 Rp 23.0K
$2.03 MX$37.97
-37.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.25 Rp 22.7K
$2.02 MX$37.88
-38.12%
Onion (1kg)
$1.60 Rp 29.0K
$1.90 MX$35.60
-15.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 Rp 12.4K
$1.14 MX$21.41
-40.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35 Rp 6,409
$1.24 MX$23.17
-71.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.44 Rp 26.1K
$4.27 MX$79.9
-66.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.51 Rp 262.6K
$9.81 MX$184
47.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 Rp 27.5K
$1.59 MX$29.66
-4.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 Rp 35.9K
$2.75 MX$51.3
-28.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Kuta, Lombok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.16 Rp 2,869
$0.51 MX$9.63
-68.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$5.68 Rp 102.8K
$27.39 MX$512
-79.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.31 Rp 5,622
$4.76 MX$89.1
-93.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 Rp 5,031
$3.25 MX$60.8
-91.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.92 Rp 70.9K
$5.39 MX$101
-27.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.54 Rp 9,826
$1.53 MX$28.58
-64.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.0K Rp 288.9M
$21.2K MX$396.8K
-24.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.6K Rp 373.7M
$23.3K MX$435.1K
-11.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuta, Lombok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$56.7 Rp 1.0M
$83.5 MX$1,562
-32.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.63 Rp 83.8K
$23.19 MX$434
-80.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.62 Rp 264.7K
$27.61 MX$516
-47.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kuta, Lombok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.61 Rp 499.9K
$56.4 MX$1,056
-51.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.71 Rp 175.8K
$28.19 MX$527
-65.56%
Cinema Ticket
$2.28 Rp 41.3K
$5.00 MX$93.5
-54.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kuta, Lombok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$311 Rp 5.6M
$207 MX$3,873
50.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,879 Rp 142.6M
$5,231 MX$97.8K
50.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kuta, Lombok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.26 Rp 638.3K
$43.45 MX$813
-18.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.86 Rp 486.3K
$42.54 MX$796
-36.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.2 Rp 1.1M
$72.8 MX$1,361
-15.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.4 Rp 1.1M
$88.4 MX$1,653
-31.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kuta, Lombok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$422 Rp 7.6M
$995 MX$18.6K
-57.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$263 Rp 4.8M
$382 MX$7,152
-31.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,375 Rp 24.9M
$1,674 MX$31.3K
-17.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$651 Rp 11.8M
$1,081 MX$20.2K
-39.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$945 Rp 17.1M
$3,909 MX$73.1K
-75.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$864 Rp 15.6M
$6,138 MX$114.8K
-85.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kuta, Lombok
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$832 MX$15.6K
-
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, Lombok: November 2, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kuta, Lombok
$263
Playa del Carmen
$382 45.6% $120
Groceries & Markets
Kuta, Lombok
$187
Playa del Carmen
$257 38% $71
Clothing & Footwear
Kuta, Lombok
$83
Playa del Carmen
$111 34.6% $29
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuta, Lombok
$76
Playa del Carmen
$134 76.8% $58
Eating Out
Kuta, Lombok
$53
Playa del Carmen
$200 279% $147
Sport & Entertainment
Kuta, Lombok
$32
Playa del Carmen
$66 107% $34
Getting Around
Kuta, Lombok
$8
Playa del Carmen
$50 530% $42

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $422 in Kuta, Lombok versus $995 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 $17 in Kuta, Lombok versus $44 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $187 vs $257 – making Kuta, Lombok the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Kuta, Lombok
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
00:25 12:25 AM
11:25 11:25 AM
13 h behind Kuta, Lombok
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,000
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 18,103 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.52 USD). 1 EUR = 20,331 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.92 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 18.7 MXN (100 MXN = 5.35 USD). 1 EUR = 21.01 MXN (100 MXN = 4.76 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kuta, Lombok Playa del Carmen 17,190 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kuta, Lombok
  • 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, Lombok vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kuta, Lombok or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen costs about 72% more than Kuta, Lombok, 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, Lombok and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,051 per month in Kuta, Lombok and $1,804 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, Lombok or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kuta, Lombok, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $422 there versus $995 in Playa del Carmen.
How do dining costs compare in Kuta, Lombok and in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $17 in Kuta, Lombok and $44 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, Lombok compared to Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $701 in Kuta, Lombok and $1,202 in Playa del Carmen. That makes Kuta, Lombok about 42% cheaper.
Can you live on $800/month in Kuta, Lombok or in Playa del Carmen?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Kuta, Lombok, where all-in costs run around $701, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,202. In Kuta, Lombok it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Kuta, Lombok or Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $701 in Kuta, Lombok to $1,202 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, Kuta, Lombok is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 42% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

Kuta, Lombok vs other spots: cost of living compared

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