😐A single person spends $1,330 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $630 in Nganjuk, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,336 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $977 in Nganjuk, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,341 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,323 in Nganjuk, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 111% more than Nganjuk, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Nganjuk are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen3% lower, Nganjuk54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Nganjuk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.02MX$221
$1.47Rp 26.1K
785.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.25MX$784
$10.69Rp 190.1K
332.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.59MX$213
$2.95Rp 52.4K
326.78%
Cappuccino
$4.00MX$67.9
$1.42Rp 25.3K
181.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42MX$24.08
$0.46Rp 8,145
208.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81MX$13.73
$0.24Rp 4,301
237.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.05MX$51.7
$2.32Rp 41.1K
31.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82MX$116
$3.74Rp 66.5K
82.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Nganjuk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71MX$29.04
$1.10Rp 19.5K
55.45%
White Bread(500g)
$2.22MX$37.62
$1.11Rp 19.8K
100.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72MX$29.13
$0.87Rp 15.4K
97.70%
Eggs
$2.71MX$45.99
$1.47Rp 26.1K
84.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.37MX$159
$6.40Rp 113.7K
46.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.86MX$150
$3.02Rp 53.7K
193.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.78MX$217
$8.17Rp 145.2K
56.43%
Apples(1kg)
$3.13MX$53.0
$2.28Rp 40.6K
37.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55MX$26.24
$1.23Rp 21.9K
26.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.51
$1.94Rp 34.5K
10.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.35MX$39.89
$1.08Rp 19.2K
117.59%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02MX$34.23
$1.09Rp 19.4K
85.32%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.67
$1.82Rp 32.3K
9.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$21.09
$0.87Rp 15.4K
42.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19MX$20.21
$0.44Rp 7,821
170.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65MX$78.8
$2.61Rp 46.4K
78.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.47MX$177
$22.69Rp 403.3K
-53.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58MX$26.82
$1.69Rp 30.0K
-6.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92MX$49.48
$3.05Rp 54.2K
-4.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Nganjuk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MX$9.53
$0.26Rp 4,641
115.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.76MX$504
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.32MX$90.2
$0.51Rp 9,076
943.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.72MX$63.0
$0.36Rp 6,313
933.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$97.9
$2.72Rp 48.3K
112.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.27
$0.75Rp 13.4K
106.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4KMX$379.1K
$24.6KRp 436.4M
-8.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6KMX$433.3K
$34.0KRp 605.1M
-24.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Nganjuk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.3MX$1,513
$69.4Rp 1.2M
28.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.30MX$395
$4.46Rp 79.2K
422.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.72MX$538
$19.22Rp 341.7K
65.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Nganjuk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,165
$19.51Rp 346.7K
252.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.40MX$498
$7.78Rp 138.3K
277.89%
Cinema Ticket
$5.06MX$85.7
$2.82Rp 50.1K
79.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Nganjuk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$222MX$3,765
$104Rp 1.9M
112.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,293MX$72.7K
$8,161Rp 145.1M
-47.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Nganjuk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.21MX$783
$40.76Rp 724.5K
13.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.43MX$753
$32.30Rp 574.1K
37.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.5MX$1,618
$73.4Rp 1.3M
30.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.5MX$1,568
$70.4Rp 1.3M
31.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Nganjuk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,069MX$18.1K
$239Rp 4.2M
347.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$393MX$6,663
$147Rp 2.6M
167.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,988MX$33.7K
$540Rp 9.6M
268.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,304MX$22.1K
$390Rp 6.9M
234.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,037MX$68.4K
$1,021Rp 18.2M
295.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,627MX$112.3K
$722Rp 12.8M
817.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Nganjuk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$747MX$12.7K
$83.7Rp 1.5M
792.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.6
9.67
19.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026
Last update for Nganjuk: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $239 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 793% 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 $46.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $11.00 in Nganjuk. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $198 – 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 111%, 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 $1,995 per month in Playa del Carmen and $946 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.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Nganjuk?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Playa del Carmen and $11.00 in Nganjuk. 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 Nganjuk?
Groceries cost about 40% 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 Nganjuk?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Nganjuk, where all-in costs run around $630, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,330. 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