😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $669 in Nganjuk, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,016 in Nganjuk, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,363 in Nganjuk, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 92% more than Nganjuk, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Nganjuk are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, Nganjuk50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Nganjuk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$1.56Rp 27.1K
665.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$12.27Rp 212.6K
248.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$3.29Rp 57.0K
221.88%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$1.71Rp 29.7K
111.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$0.50Rp 8,735
194.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.28Rp 4,855
235.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$2.50Rp 43.4K
23.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$3.44Rp 59.5K
29.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Nganjuk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.22Rp 21.1K
17.21%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$1.18Rp 20.4K
59.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$0.95Rp 16.5K
71.58%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$1.60Rp 27.8K
65.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$7.99Rp 138.5K
2.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$3.12Rp 54.1K
165.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$7.71Rp 133.6K
43.97%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$2.37Rp 41.1K
11.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$1.43Rp 24.8K
4.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$1.83Rp 31.7K
8.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$1.56Rp 27.0K
33.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$1.32Rp 22.9K
35.61%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$1.89Rp 32.7K
15.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$0.98Rp 16.9K
10.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.44Rp 7,630
136.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$2.53Rp 43.9K
56.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$21.98Rp 380.9K
-53.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$2.02Rp 34.9K
-14.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$3.13Rp 54.2K
-20.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Nganjuk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$0.32Rp 5,574
62.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
$10.12Rp 175.5K
166.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$0.53Rp 9,182
492.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$0.37Rp 6,451
548.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$2.86Rp 49.6K
8.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$0.81Rp 14.1K
56.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$24.5KRp 423.9M
26.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$28.0KRp 485.0M
-16.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Nganjuk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$69.0Rp 1.2M
18.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$4.40Rp 76.2K
410.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$23.12Rp 400.7K
28.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Nganjuk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$22.59Rp 391.5K
129.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$6.07Rp 105.3K
207.58%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$3.03Rp 52.6K
64.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Nganjuk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$93.0Rp 1.6M
112.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$7,669Rp 132.9M
-31.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Nganjuk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$42.44Rp 735.5K
-14.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$30.11Rp 521.9K
33.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$66.4Rp 1.2M
20.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$73.5Rp 1.3M
20.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Nganjuk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$262Rp 4.5M
267.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$156Rp 2.7M
197.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$585Rp 10.1M
172.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$339Rp 5.9M
256.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$1,104Rp 19.1M
256.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$757Rp 13.1M
751.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Nganjuk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$85.5Rp 1.5M
742.97%
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 Nganjuk: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $262 in Nganjuk. 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 743% 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 Nganjuk. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $210 – making Nganjuk 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 Nganjuk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nganjuk cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 92%, 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 $1,004 in Nganjuk. 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 Nganjuk, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 167% less in Nganjuk. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $93.0 in Nganjuk. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Nganjuk?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Nganjuk, where all-in costs run around $669, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Nganjuk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Nganjuk more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nganjuk – 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 Nganjuk. 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