Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Banyuwangi

For one person, living is cheaper in Banyuwangi: $470 a month against $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $8,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Banyuwangi, Indonesia
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Banyuwangi
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$470
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Banyuwangi

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $470 in Banyuwangi.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Banyuwangi $470

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $759 in Banyuwangi.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Banyuwangi $759

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,959 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,049 in Banyuwangi.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Banyuwangi $1,049

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 156% more expensive than in Banyuwangi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 12% lower, Banyuwangi 66% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Banyuwangi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$203
$0.67 Rp 12.2K
1529.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$807
$11.24 Rp 204.0K
285.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$219
$3.08 Rp 55.9K
282.47%
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$70.9
$1.18 Rp 21.4K
222.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$23.87
$0.38 Rp 6,815
236.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.57
$0.17 Rp 3,022
358.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$59.0
$2.10 Rp 38.2K
50.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$91.9
$4.17 Rp 75.7K
18.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Banyuwangi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.18
$1.01 Rp 18.4K
39.60%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.27
$0.63 Rp 11.5K
252.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.38
$0.79 Rp 14.4K
79.75%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$46.96
$0.73 Rp 13.3K
245.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$135
$3.62 Rp 65.7K
100.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$143
$2.08 Rp 37.7K
270.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$236
$6.22 Rp 112.9K
104.02%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$51.8
$1.94 Rp 35.2K
43.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.47
$0.58 Rp 10.5K
136.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.49
$0.70 Rp 12.7K
264.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.52
$0.97 Rp 17.6K
118.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.08
$0.81 Rp 14.7K
139.51%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.11
$0.90 Rp 16.3K
110.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.34
$0.57 Rp 10.3K
101.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$21.95
$0.33 Rp 5,912
257.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$80.0
$1.96 Rp 35.5K
119.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$185
$5.49 Rp 99.7K
81.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.48
$1.39 Rp 25.3K
13.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$49.72
$2.22 Rp 40.2K
20.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Banyuwangi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.30
$0.23 Rp 4,165
139.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$495
$11.37 Rp 206.3K
134.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$92.5
$0.49 Rp 8,869
914.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$62.0
$0.29 Rp 5,314
1048.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$99.7
$2.58 Rp 46.9K
107.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$26.88
$0.72 Rp 13.0K
100.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$384.7K
$22.4K Rp 406.4M
-7.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$436.8K
$27.9K Rp 507.1M
-16.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Banyuwangi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,578
$46.01 Rp 834.8K
84.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$436
$4.67 Rp 84.8K
401.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$533
$17.65 Rp 320.3K
62.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Banyuwangi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,062
$17.89 Rp 324.6K
218.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$538
$8.03 Rp 145.8K
260.02%
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$95.7
$1.88 Rp 34.2K
173.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Banyuwangi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,845
$27.75 Rp 503.5K
644.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$73.1K
$1,080 Rp 19.6M
263.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Banyuwangi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$807
$22.34 Rp 405.3K
94.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$771
$10.98 Rp 199.3K
277.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,381
$54.8 Rp 994.4K
35.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,661
$27.18 Rp 493.2K
228.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Banyuwangi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.2K
$227 Rp 4.1M
331.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,089
$148 Rp 2.7M
158.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$31.8K
$558 Rp 10.1M
206.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.0K
$368 Rp 6.7M
191.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$73.4K
$1,173 Rp 21.3M
236.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$114.6K
$778 Rp 14.1M
691.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Banyuwangi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.7K
$148 Rp 2.7M
396.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
6.84
67.40%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Last update for Banyuwangi: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Banyuwangi
$148 61.3% $233
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Banyuwangi
$116 54.4% $139
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Banyuwangi
$50 75.4% $153
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Banyuwangi
$68 50.1% $69
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Banyuwangi
$52 53.6% $60
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Banyuwangi
$22 67.8% $46
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Banyuwangi
$14 71.8% $36

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $980 in Playa del Carmen and $227 in Banyuwangi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays about 5 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $43 in Playa del Carmen vs $11 in Banyuwangi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $255 vs $116 per month, with Banyuwangi cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇮🇩 Banyuwangi
🕒 Local time
08:24 8:24 AM
20:24 8:24 PM
12 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
117,558
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 27, 2026: 1 USD = 18.62 MXN (100 MXN = 5.37 USD). 1 EUR = 20.81 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 27, 2026: 1 USD = 18,145 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,281 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.93 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Banyuwangi 17,330 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Banyuwangi

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
Playa del Carmen vs Banyuwangi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Banyuwangi cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Banyuwangi is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and clothing. The 156% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Banyuwangi?
Average pay in Playa del Carmen is about 5 times higher, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Banyuwangi?
Rent for a central apartment: $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $227 in Banyuwangi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Banyuwangi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 119% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Banyuwangi?
Dining out is cheaper in Banyuwangi – a meal for two runs $11 versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Banyuwangi?
At $470 in Banyuwangi versus $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Banyuwangi but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Banyuwangi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Playa del Carmen or in Banyuwangi?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Banyuwangi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 61% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

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