Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Denpasar, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Denpasar, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $950 in Denpasar, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,126 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,642 in Denpasar, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,980 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,334 in Denpasar, Bali.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 34% more expensive than Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Denpasar, Bali 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.87 MX$204

$2.35 Rp 42.2K

405.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.90 MX$736

$21.69 Rp 388.7K

97.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.65 MX$183

$3.23 Rp 58.0K

229.72%

Cappuccino

$3.45 MX$59.2

$1.90 Rp 34.1K

81.58%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 MX$25.81

$0.94 Rp 16.9K

59.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 MX$16.28

$0.47 Rp 8,337

102.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MX$51.9

$1.99 Rp 35.6K

52.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 MX$79.1

$2.56 Rp 45.8K

80.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.61

$1.46 Rp 26.1K

-5.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.85 MX$31.70

$1.99 Rp 35.6K

-7.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 MX$27.65

$0.98 Rp 17.6K

64.29%

Eggs

$2.59 MX$44.51

$1.98 Rp 35.5K

30.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 MX$142

$11.75 Rp 210.4K

-29.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.37 MX$144

$3.38 Rp 60.5K

147.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.66 MX$183

$9.83 Rp 176.0K

8.44%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 MX$45.12

$3.00 Rp 53.8K

-12.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 MX$25.53

$1.30 Rp 23.2K

14.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 MX$32.94

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

-15.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$35.81

$1.81 Rp 32.5K

15.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$31.88

$1.57 Rp 28.1K

18.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.81

$1.78 Rp 31.8K

26.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 MX$18.23

$0.80 Rp 14.4K

32.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.67

$0.63 Rp 11.2K

73.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.15 MX$71.2

$2.59 Rp 46.4K

60.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.39 MX$178

$18.61 Rp 333.4K

-44.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 MX$29.59

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

-23.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$44.85

$2.32 Rp 41.5K

12.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.30

$0.24 Rp 4,288

125.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.94 MX$462

$7.50 Rp 134.4K

259.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$53.7

$0.41 Rp 7,327

663.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.51 MX$43.09

$0.38 Rp 6,836

560.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 MX$54.1

$5.61 Rp 100.5K

-43.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$21.88

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

64.94%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.4K MX$521.3K

$23.6K Rp 422.0M

28.96%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.6K MX$404.5K

$29.3K Rp 524.1M

-19.44%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.0 MX$1,425

$72.0 Rp 1.3M

15.21%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.71 MX$390

$3.69 Rp 66.1K

515.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.46 MX$506

$21.33 Rp 382.1K

38.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.0 MX$875

$68.8 Rp 1.2M

-25.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.33 MX$315

$4.53 Rp 81.2K

304.64%

Cinema Ticket

$4.93 MX$84.5

$2.89 Rp 51.7K

70.59%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$197 MX$3,386

$232 Rp 4.2M

-15.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,280 MX$90.6K

$5,015 Rp 89.9M

5.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.90 MX$633

$46.98 Rp 841.7K

-21.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.89 MX$685

$32.75 Rp 586.7K

21.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.0 MX$1,373

$74.5 Rp 1.3M

7.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.5 MX$1,536

$67.3 Rp 1.2M

32.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$956 MX$16.4K

$515 Rp 9.2M

85.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$477 MX$8,189

$349 Rp 6.3M

36.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,646 MX$28.3K

$1,780 Rp 31.9M

-7.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,225 MX$21.0K

$1,083 Rp 19.4M

13.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,918 MX$67.2K

$1,453 Rp 26.0M

169.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,459 MX$110.9K

$1,186 Rp 21.3M

444.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$667 MX$11.4K

$325 Rp 5.8M

105.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

13.28

-14.01%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $956 in Playa del Carmen and $515 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 105% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $22.00 in Denpasar, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $241 per month, with Denpasar, Bali cheaper across the board.

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 Denpasar, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen and Denpasar, Bali differ by about 34% in total monthly costs ($1,271 vs $950 including rent). Denpasar, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Playa del Carmen pays 105% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $515 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $950 in Denpasar, Bali – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Denpasar, Bali runs roughly 259% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $950 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Denpasar, Bali but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Denpasar, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Denpasar, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Denpasar, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.