Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Sidoarjo Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Sidoarjo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $649 in Sidoarjo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,130 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $990 in Sidoarjo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,999 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,331 in Sidoarjo, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 94% more than Sidoarjo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Sidoarjo are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Sidoarjo 52% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67 MX$202
$1.51 Rp 26.0K
672.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88 MX$726
$12.44 Rp 213.8K
236.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.40 MX$180
$3.12 Rp 53.7K
233.33%
Cappuccino
$3.61 MX$62.6
$0.63 Rp 10.8K
473.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.45
$0.51 Rp 8,692
188.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 MX$15.80
$0.26 Rp 4,410
250.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$52.6
$2.44 Rp 41.9K
24.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 MX$77.4
$4.07 Rp 70.0K
9.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.83
$1.37 Rp 23.6K
0.73%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 MX$31.93
$1.08 Rp 18.5K
70.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.82
$0.99 Rp 17.0K
62.63%
Eggs
$2.57 MX$44.52
$1.43 Rp 24.5K
79.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.49 MX$147
$9.28 Rp 159.4K
-8.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.49 MX$147
$2.53 Rp 43.5K
235.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.99 MX$190
$6.18 Rp 106.2K
77.83%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 MX$47.25
$0.96 Rp 16.4K
184.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$25.92
$0.60 Rp 10.3K
150.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 MX$33.93
$0.82 Rp 14.0K
139.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$36.70
$0.63 Rp 10.9K
236.51%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.30
$0.79 Rp 13.6K
135.44%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.67
$1.08 Rp 18.5K
100.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.59
$0.30 Rp 5,099
256.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 MX$18.18
$0.42 Rp 7,245
150.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MX$72.6
$2.09 Rp 35.9K
100.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.28 MX$178
$26.16 Rp 449.6K
-60.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 MX$28.87
$1.83 Rp 31.5K
-8.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 MX$43.12
$3.30 Rp 56.8K
-24.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.37
$0.32 Rp 5,517
68.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.27 MX$455
$9.74 Rp 167.4K
169.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.10 MX$53.8
$0.44 Rp 7,583
604.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.46 MX$42.66
$0.31 Rp 5,390
693.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$56.1
$1.26 Rp 21.6K
157.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 MX$21.83
$0.84 Rp 14.4K
50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K MX$522.8K
$20.6K Rp 354.1M
46.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$406.3K
$34.7K Rp 596.9M
-32.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 MX$1,456
$82.7 Rp 1.4M
1.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21 MX$385
$4.09 Rp 70.3K
443.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65 MX$514
$12.33 Rp 211.9K
140.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.6 MX$912
$23.18 Rp 398.4K
127.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34 MX$318
$6.02 Rp 103.5K
204.65%
Cinema Ticket
$4.95 MX$85.7
$2.98 Rp 51.2K
66.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,438
$191 Rp 3.3M
3.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,322 MX$92.2K
$9,506 Rp 163.4M
-44.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95 MX$623
$62.8 Rp 1.1M
-42.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06 MX$694
$38.51 Rp 661.9K
4.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 MX$1,365
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
0.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 MX$1,499
$84.1 Rp 1.4M
2.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$977 MX$16.9K
$256 Rp 4.4M
281.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$471 MX$8,158
$160 Rp 2.8M
193.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,595 MX$27.6K
$576 Rp 9.9M
177.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,215 MX$21.1K
$335 Rp 5.8M
262.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,032 MX$69.9K
$1,246 Rp 21.4M
223.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,579 MX$114.0K
$787 Rp 13.5M
736.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$714 MX$12.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
8.33
37.09%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Last update for Sidoarjo: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $256 in Sidoarjo. 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 $42 in Playa del Carmen versus $12 in Sidoarjo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $187 – making Sidoarjo 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 Sidoarjo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sidoarjo cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 94%, 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 $1,891 per month in Playa del Carmen and $974 in Sidoarjo. 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 Sidoarjo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Sidoarjo?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Playa del Carmen and $649 in Sidoarjo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 170% less in Sidoarjo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Sidoarjo?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sidoarjo, where all-in costs run around $649, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,261. In Sidoarjo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Sidoarjo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sidoarjo – 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 Sidoarjo. 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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