😐A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $619 in Banjarmasin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $937 in Banjarmasin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,254 in Banjarmasin, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 104% more than Banjarmasin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Banjarmasin are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Banjarmasin53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Banjarmasin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$1.26Rp 22.7K
830.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$12.12Rp 218.7K
245.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$2.54Rp 45.9K
313.78%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$1.05Rp 19.0K
241.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$0.95Rp 17.2K
58.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$0.31Rp 5,513
196.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$2.52Rp 45.5K
17.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$3.51Rp 63.3K
25.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Banjarmasin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$1.48Rp 26.8K
-5.41%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$0.95Rp 17.1K
97.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$1.60Rp 29.0K
-2.50%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$1.49Rp 26.9K
75.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$8.30Rp 149.8K
0.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$2.32Rp 41.8K
259.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$4.04Rp 72.9K
168.81%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$1.88Rp 33.9K
44.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$1.06Rp 19.1K
42.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$0.94Rp 17.0K
98.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$0.69Rp 12.4K
217.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$1.01Rp 18.2K
84.16%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$1.08Rp 19.5K
106.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$0.76Rp 13.7K
40.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$0.47Rp 8,528
131.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$1.87Rp 33.8K
124.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
$20.41Rp 368.5K
-48.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$2.13Rp 38.4K
-22.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
$3.08Rp 55.6K
-15.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Banjarmasin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$0.29Rp 5,153
86.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
$18.31Rp 330.5K
42.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$1.19Rp 21.6K
158.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
$0.75Rp 13.6K
220.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$2.83Rp 51.2K
10.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$0.86Rp 15.6K
52.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$24.8KRp 448.3M
20.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$28.2KRp 508.3M
-17.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Banjarmasin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
$44.96Rp 811.7K
80.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
$2.99Rp 53.9K
654.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$18.69Rp 337.3K
60.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Banjarmasin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$49.17Rp 887.6K
7.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
$6.02Rp 108.8K
205.48%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
$6.30Rp 113.8K
-21.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Banjarmasin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$61.2Rp 1.1M
228.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$7,693Rp 138.9M
-32.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Banjarmasin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$27.36Rp 494.0K
31.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$30.75Rp 555.2K
30.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$59.7Rp 1.1M
33.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$36.21Rp 653.6K
138.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Banjarmasin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$255Rp 4.6M
283.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
$160Rp 2.9M
193.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$589Rp 10.6M
180.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
$330Rp 6.0M
264.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
$1,167Rp 21.1M
238.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
$728Rp 13.1M
807.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Banjarmasin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
$199Rp 3.6M
239.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
9.15
24.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Last update for Banjarmasin: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $255 in Banjarmasin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 240% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $12.00 in Banjarmasin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $180 – making Banjarmasin 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
Playa del Carmen vs Banjarmasin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Banjarmasin cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 104%, 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 $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $929 in Banjarmasin. 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 Banjarmasin, 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 Playa del Carmen or in Banjarmasin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $12.00 in Banjarmasin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Banjarmasin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $619 in Banjarmasin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Banjarmasin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Banjarmasin, where all-in costs run around $619, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Banjarmasin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Banjarmasin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Banjarmasin – 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 Banjarmasin. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared