😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $612 in Banjarmasin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $947 in Banjarmasin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,282 in Banjarmasin, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 110% more than Banjarmasin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Banjarmasin are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, Banjarmasin54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Banjarmasin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$1.25Rp 21.6K
855.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$12.39Rp 214.7K
245.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$2.66Rp 46.2K
298.12%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$1.06Rp 18.4K
241.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$1.01Rp 17.5K
45.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.33Rp 5,797
184.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$2.53Rp 43.8K
22.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$3.63Rp 62.9K
22.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Banjarmasin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.49Rp 25.9K
-4.03%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$0.96Rp 16.7K
95.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$1.62Rp 28.1K
0.62%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$1.45Rp 25.2K
82.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$8.06Rp 139.7K
1.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$2.43Rp 42.1K
241.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$4.01Rp 69.6K
176.81%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$1.95Rp 33.8K
35.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$1.01Rp 17.5K
48.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$0.99Rp 17.2K
101.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$0.70Rp 12.1K
197.14%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$1.05Rp 18.2K
70.48%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$1.09Rp 18.9K
100.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$0.84Rp 14.5K
28.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.44Rp 7,641
136.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$1.88Rp 32.6K
111.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$21.61Rp 374.6K
-52.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$2.04Rp 35.4K
-15.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$3.17Rp 54.9K
-21.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Banjarmasin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$0.29Rp 5,004
79.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
$18.20Rp 315.4K
48.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$1.20Rp 20.7K
161.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$0.75Rp 13.0K
220.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$2.90Rp 50.3K
6.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$0.91Rp 15.8K
39.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$24.8KRp 429.3M
24.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$27.9KRp 484.2M
-16.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Banjarmasin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$44.13Rp 764.9K
85.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$3.05Rp 52.9K
636.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$18.84Rp 326.5K
57.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Banjarmasin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$48.67Rp 843.5K
6.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$6.06Rp 105.1K
208.09%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$6.29Rp 109.1K
-20.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Banjarmasin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$61.7Rp 1.1M
220.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$7,717Rp 133.7M
-31.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Banjarmasin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$27.70Rp 480.2K
31.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$30.47Rp 528.1K
31.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$59.8Rp 1.0M
33.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$35.47Rp 614.8K
150.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Banjarmasin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$258Rp 4.5M
274.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$158Rp 2.7M
193.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$593Rp 10.3M
169.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$339Rp 5.9M
257.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$1,231Rp 21.3M
220.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$789Rp 13.7M
717.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Banjarmasin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$205Rp 3.6M
251.07%
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: April 25, 2026
Last update for Banjarmasin: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $258 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 251% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $12.00 in Banjarmasin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $182 – 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 110%, 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 $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $917 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 Banjarmasin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 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 vs Banjarmasin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $612 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 Playa del Carmen or Banjarmasin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Banjarmasin, where all-in costs run around $612, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. 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