🙂A single person spends $736 per month in Metro, Lampung vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,157 per month in Metro, Lampung vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,579 per month in Metro, Lampung vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Metro, Lampung is about 42% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Metro, Lampung and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Metro, Lampung46% lower, Playa del Carmen7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Metro, Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.59Rp 45.9K
$11.60MX$200
-77.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.38Rp 272.3K
$47.11MX$812
-67.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.32Rp 58.8K
$11.88MX$205
-72.05%
Cappuccino
$2.02Rp 35.8K
$3.98MX$68.6
-49.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 8,007
$1.43MX$24.60
-68.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24Rp 4,227
$0.82MX$14.22
-70.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.61Rp 46.2K
$3.19MX$55.0
-18.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.99Rp 70.6K
$6.79MX$117
-41.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Metro, Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41Rp 24.9K
$1.68MX$28.89
-16.07%
White Bread(500g)
$1.11Rp 19.7K
$2.20MX$37.88
-49.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.91Rp 16.1K
$1.71MX$29.45
-46.78%
Eggs
$1.74Rp 30.9K
$2.74MX$47.26
-36.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.67Rp 171.2K
$9.58MX$165
0.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.08Rp 54.5K
$9.01MX$155
-65.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.64Rp 135.3K
$12.81MX$221
-40.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.93Rp 51.9K
$2.89MX$49.81
1.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.40Rp 24.7K
$1.50MX$25.81
-6.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.64Rp 46.7K
$2.15MX$37.03
22.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42Rp 25.1K
$2.26MX$38.96
-37.17%
Potato(1kg)
$1.42Rp 25.1K
$1.98MX$34.15
-28.28%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17Rp 38.4K
$1.99MX$34.30
9.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92Rp 16.3K
$1.23MX$21.28
-25.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52Rp 9,296
$1.20MX$20.63
-56.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.91Rp 51.5K
$4.55MX$78.5
-36.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.31Rp 377.3K
$10.37MX$179
105.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12Rp 37.6K
$1.62MX$27.91
30.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05Rp 54.0K
$2.88MX$49.67
5.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Metro, Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25Rp 4,409
$0.60MX$10.35
-58.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.80MX$497
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.50Rp 8,836
$5.39MX$92.9
-90.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33Rp 5,781
$3.73MX$64.3
-91.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.44Rp 60.9K
$5.77MX$99.5
-40.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83Rp 14.7K
$1.54MX$26.48
-46.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1KRp 497.0M
$22.5KMX$388.8K
24.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8KRp 598.8M
$26.1KMX$449.3K
29.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Metro, Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$108Rp 1.9M
$91.4MX$1,576
18.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.02Rp 106.6K
$25.20MX$435
-76.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.18Rp 339.6K
$31.24MX$539
-38.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Metro, Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.05Rp 390.4K
$67.2MX$1,159
-67.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.41Rp 131.2K
$29.11MX$502
-74.54%
Cinema Ticket
$3.32Rp 58.7K
$4.86MX$83.8
-31.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Metro, Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$158Rp 2.8M
$224MX$3,856
-29.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,449Rp 149.6M
$4,229MX$72.9K
99.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Metro, Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.0Rp 1.0M
$47.10MX$812
25.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10Rp 515.4K
$44.29MX$764
-34.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.3Rp 1.3M
$80.1MX$1,381
-9.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109Rp 1.9M
$92.7MX$1,598
17.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Metro, Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$206Rp 3.6M
$1,063MX$18.3K
-80.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$175Rp 3.1M
$390MX$6,728
-55.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$528Rp 9.3M
$2,149MX$37.1K
-75.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$334Rp 5.9M
$1,272MX$21.9K
-73.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,201Rp 21.3M
$4,001MX$69.0K
-69.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$687Rp 12.2M
$6,502MX$112.1K
-89.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Metro, Lampung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$758MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.46
11.45
-17.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Metro, Lampung: September 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $206 in Metro, Lampung versus $1,063 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 $15.00 in Metro, Lampung versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $222 vs $276 – making Metro, Lampung 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
Metro, Lampung vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Metro, Lampung?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 72%, 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 $1,104 per month in Metro, Lampung and $1,899 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 Metro, Lampung, 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 Metro, Lampung or in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Metro, Lampung and $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Metro, Lampung and in Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 24% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Metro, Lampung or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Metro, Lampung, where all-in costs run around $736, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Metro, Lampung it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Metro, Lampung or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Metro, Lampung – 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 Metro, Lampung. 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.
Metro, Lampung vs other spots: cost of living compared