Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Metro, Lampung Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Metro, Lampung

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $736 in Metro, Lampung, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,157 in Metro, Lampung, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,579 in Metro, Lampung, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 72% more than Metro, Lampung, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Metro, Lampung are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 7% lower, Metro, Lampung 46% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60 MX$200
$2.59 Rp 45.9K
347.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11 MX$812
$15.38 Rp 272.3K
206.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.88 MX$205
$3.32 Rp 58.8K
257.83%
Cappuccino
$3.98 MX$68.6
$2.02 Rp 35.8K
97.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 MX$24.60
$0.45 Rp 8,007
217.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$14.22
$0.24 Rp 4,227
241.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$55.0
$2.61 Rp 46.2K
22.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79 MX$117
$3.99 Rp 70.6K
70.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.89
$1.41 Rp 24.9K
19.15%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$37.88
$1.11 Rp 19.7K
98.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 MX$29.45
$0.91 Rp 16.1K
87.91%
Eggs
$2.74 MX$47.26
$1.74 Rp 30.9K
57.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.58 MX$165
$9.67 Rp 171.2K
-0.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.01 MX$155
$3.08 Rp 54.5K
192.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 MX$221
$7.64 Rp 135.3K
67.67%
Apples (1kg)
$2.89 MX$49.81
$2.93 Rp 51.9K
-1.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$25.81
$1.40 Rp 24.7K
7.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 MX$37.03
$2.64 Rp 46.7K
-18.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.96
$1.42 Rp 25.1K
59.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 MX$34.15
$1.42 Rp 25.1K
39.44%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.30
$2.17 Rp 38.4K
-8.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 MX$21.28
$0.92 Rp 16.3K
33.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.63
$0.52 Rp 9,296
130.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55 MX$78.5
$2.91 Rp 51.5K
56.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.37 MX$179
$21.31 Rp 377.3K
-51.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.91
$2.12 Rp 37.6K
-23.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$49.67
$3.05 Rp 54.0K
-5.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Metro, Lampung
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.35
$0.25 Rp 4,409
140.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.80 MX$497
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$92.9
$0.50 Rp 8,836
978.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.73 MX$64.3
$0.33 Rp 5,781
1030.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.77 MX$99.5
$3.44 Rp 60.9K
67.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.48
$0.83 Rp 14.7K
85.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K MX$388.8K
$28.1K Rp 497.0M
-19.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K MX$449.3K
$33.8K Rp 598.8M
-22.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.4 MX$1,576
$108 Rp 1.9M
-15.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20 MX$435
$6.02 Rp 106.6K
318.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24 MX$539
$19.18 Rp 339.6K
62.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 MX$1,159
$22.05 Rp 390.4K
204.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11 MX$502
$7.41 Rp 131.2K
292.85%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$83.8
$3.32 Rp 58.7K
46.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$224 MX$3,856
$158 Rp 2.8M
41.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,229 MX$72.9K
$8,449 Rp 149.6M
-49.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10 MX$812
$59.0 Rp 1.0M
-20.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29 MX$764
$29.10 Rp 515.4K
52.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.1 MX$1,381
$72.3 Rp 1.3M
10.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7 MX$1,598
$109 Rp 1.9M
-14.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Metro, Lampung
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,063 MX$18.3K
$206 Rp 3.6M
416.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 MX$6,728
$175 Rp 3.1M
123.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,149 MX$37.1K
$528 Rp 9.3M
307.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 MX$21.9K
$334 Rp 5.9M
281.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,001 MX$69.0K
$1,201 Rp 21.3M
233.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,502 MX$112.1K
$687 Rp 12.2M
846.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$758 MX$13.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
9.46
21.04%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Last update for Metro, Lampung: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $206 in Metro, Lampung. 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $15.00 in Metro, Lampung. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $222 – making Metro, Lampung 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 Metro, Lampung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Metro, Lampung cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 72%, 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 $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,104 in Metro, Lampung. 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 Metro, Lampung, 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 Metro, Lampung?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen and $15.00 in Metro, Lampung. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Metro, Lampung?
Groceries cost about 24% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Metro, Lampung?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Metro, Lampung, where all-in costs run around $736, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Metro, Lampung it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Metro, Lampung more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Metro, Lampung – 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 Metro, Lampung. 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.

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