Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Kuta, Lombok

For one person, living is cheaper in Kuta, Lombok: $701 a month against $1,202 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $6,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Kuta, Lombok, Indonesia
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,202
/mo nomad
Kuta, Lombok
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$701
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Kuta, Lombok

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 Kuta, Lombok actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,202 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $701 in Kuta, Lombok, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,202
  • Kuta, Lombok $701

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,156 in Kuta, Lombok, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Kuta, Lombok $1,156

A family of three spends $2,962 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,610 in Kuta, Lombok, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,962
  • Kuta, Lombok $1,610

Playa del Carmen costs about 72% more than Kuta, Lombok, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Kuta, Lombok are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 11% lower, Kuta, Lombok 48% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.67 MX$200
$1.61 Rp 29.1K
562.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.80 MX$823
$17.13 Rp 309.1K
155.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.79 MX$221
$2.85 Rp 51.5K
313.68%
Cappuccino
$3.79 MX$71.1
$1.31 Rp 23.7K
189.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 MX$24.36
$0.82 Rp 14.9K
58.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$15.65
$0.35 Rp 6,247
137.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 MX$59.1
$1.31 Rp 23.7K
140.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$92.7
$2.19 Rp 39.6K
125.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.46
$1.03 Rp 18.6K
36.89%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$41.23
$1.53 Rp 27.6K
43.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 MX$27.66
$0.73 Rp 13.3K
101.37%
Eggs
$2.50 MX$46.89
$1.40 Rp 25.2K
78.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.29 MX$137
$10.46 Rp 188.9K
-30.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.95 MX$149
$2.67 Rp 48.2K
197.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.86 MX$242
$7.56 Rp 136.4K
70.11%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 MX$54.4
$2.35 Rp 42.4K
23.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 MX$25.98
$1.02 Rp 18.5K
35.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.49 MX$46.78
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
58.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 MX$38.12
$1.27 Rp 23.0K
59.84%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$38.03
$1.25 Rp 22.6K
61.60%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 MX$35.74
$1.60 Rp 28.9K
18.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 MX$21.49
$0.68 Rp 12.3K
67.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 MX$23.27
$0.35 Rp 6,390
254.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$80.2
$1.44 Rp 26.0K
196.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.81 MX$184
$14.51 Rp 261.8K
-32.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 MX$29.78
$1.52 Rp 27.4K
4.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 MX$51.6
$1.98 Rp 35.8K
38.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$9.67
$0.16 Rp 2,860
218.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.39 MX$514
$5.68 Rp 102.5K
382.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.76 MX$89.4
$0.31 Rp 5,605
1435.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.25 MX$61.0
$0.28 Rp 5,016
1060.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$101
$3.92 Rp 70.7K
37.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 MX$28.70
$0.54 Rp 9,797
183.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$398.4K
$16.0K Rp 288.0M
32.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$436.9K
$20.6K Rp 372.6M
12.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.5 MX$1,568
$56.7 Rp 1.0M
47.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.19 MX$435
$4.63 Rp 83.6K
400.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.61 MX$519
$14.62 Rp 263.9K
88.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 MX$1,060
$27.61 Rp 498.4K
104.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.19 MX$529
$9.71 Rp 175.3K
190.32%
Cinema Ticket
$5.00 MX$93.9
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
119.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,889
$311 Rp 5.6M
-33.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,231 MX$98.2K
$7,879 Rp 142.2M
-33.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.45 MX$816
$35.26 Rp 636.4K
23.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.54 MX$799
$26.86 Rp 484.8K
58.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.8 MX$1,367
$61.2 Rp 1.1M
18.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,660
$60.4 Rp 1.1M
46.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$995 MX$18.7K
$422 Rp 7.6M
135.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$382 MX$7,181
$263 Rp 4.7M
45.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,674 MX$31.4K
$1,375 Rp 24.8M
21.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,081 MX$20.3K
$651 Rp 11.8M
65.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,909 MX$73.4K
$945 Rp 17.1M
313.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,138 MX$115.3K
$864 Rp 15.6M
610.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$832 MX$15.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
13.78
-16.91%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: November 2, 2026

Last update for Kuta, Lombok: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$382
Kuta, Lombok
$263 31.3% $120
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$257
Kuta, Lombok
$187 27.5% $71
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$200
Kuta, Lombok
$53 73.6% $147
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$134
Kuta, Lombok
$76 43.4% $58
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$111
Kuta, Lombok
$83 25.7% $29
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$66
Kuta, Lombok
$32 51.6% $34
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Kuta, Lombok
$8 84.1% $42

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Playa del Carmen versus $422 in Kuta, Lombok. 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 $44 in Playa del Carmen versus $17 in Kuta, Lombok. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $257 vs $187 – making Kuta, Lombok the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇮🇩 Kuta, Lombok
🕒 Local time
14:07 2:07 PM
03:07 3:07 AM
13 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
2,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 18.78 MXN (100 MXN = 5.32 USD). 1 EUR = 21.09 MXN (100 MXN = 4.74 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 18,049 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.54 USD). 1 EUR = 20,271 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.93 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Kuta, Lombok 17,190 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Kuta, Lombok

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 Kuta, Lombok: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Kuta, Lombok?
Playa del Carmen costs about 72% more than Kuta, Lombok, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Kuta, Lombok?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,804 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,051 in Kuta, Lombok. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Kuta, Lombok?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kuta, Lombok, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $422 there versus $995 in Playa del Carmen.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Kuta, Lombok?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $44 in Playa del Carmen and $17 in Kuta, Lombok. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Kuta, Lombok?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,202 in Playa del Carmen and $701 in Kuta, Lombok. That makes Kuta, Lombok about 42% cheaper.
Can you live on $800/month in Playa del Carmen or in Kuta, Lombok?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Kuta, Lombok, where all-in costs run around $701, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,202. In Kuta, Lombok it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Playa del Carmen or Kuta, Lombok?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $701 in Kuta, Lombok to $1,202 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, Kuta, Lombok is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 42% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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