Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Sidoarjo

For one person, living is cheaper in Sidoarjo: $622 a month against $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $7,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Sidoarjo, Indonesia
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Sidoarjo
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$622
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Sidoarjo

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

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $622 in Sidoarjo, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Sidoarjo $622

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $971 in Sidoarjo, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Sidoarjo $971

A family of three spends $2,959 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,321 in Sidoarjo, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Sidoarjo $1,321

Playa del Carmen costs about 94% more than Sidoarjo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Sidoarjo are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 12% lower, Sidoarjo 54% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$203
$1.64 Rp 29.7K
565.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$807
$11.20 Rp 203.2K
287.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$219
$3.03 Rp 55.0K
288.78%
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$70.9
$0.57 Rp 10.3K
568.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$23.87
$0.42 Rp 7,672
204.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.57
$0.26 Rp 4,701
200.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$59.0
$2.22 Rp 40.4K
42.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$91.9
$4.17 Rp 75.6K
18.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.18
$1.21 Rp 21.9K
16.53%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.27
$0.97 Rp 17.7K
128.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.38
$0.89 Rp 16.2K
59.55%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$46.96
$1.21 Rp 22.0K
108.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$135
$7.65 Rp 138.9K
-5.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$143
$1.90 Rp 34.5K
305.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$236
$5.63 Rp 102.1K
125.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$51.8
$0.89 Rp 16.2K
212.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.47
$0.56 Rp 10.2K
144.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.49
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
264.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.52
$0.53 Rp 9,644
300.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.08
$0.74 Rp 13.4K
162.16%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.11
$1.02 Rp 18.6K
85.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.34
$0.27 Rp 4,848
325.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$21.95
$0.39 Rp 7,157
202.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$80.0
$1.95 Rp 35.4K
120.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$185
$24.62 Rp 446.8K
-59.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.48
$1.64 Rp 29.7K
-3.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$49.72
$2.86 Rp 51.8K
-6.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.30
$0.26 Rp 4,712
111.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$495
$9.85 Rp 178.8K
170.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$92.5
$0.39 Rp 7,103
1174.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$62.0
$0.41 Rp 7,419
712.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$99.7
$1.07 Rp 19.4K
400.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$26.88
$0.80 Rp 14.5K
80.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$384.7K
$24.4K Rp 443.5M
-15.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$436.8K
$32.6K Rp 591.2M
-27.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,578
$85.9 Rp 1.6M
-1.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$436
$4.57 Rp 82.9K
412.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$533
$11.21 Rp 203.5K
155.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,062
$18.71 Rp 339.5K
204.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$538
$8.36 Rp 151.7K
245.81%
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$95.7
$2.63 Rp 47.8K
95.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,845
$93.4 Rp 1.7M
121.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$73.1K
$9,471 Rp 171.9M
-58.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$807
$69.3 Rp 1.3M
-37.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$771
$38.31 Rp 695.0K
8.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,381
$79.6 Rp 1.4M
-6.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,661
$73.1 Rp 1.3M
22.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.2K
$229 Rp 4.1M
328.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,089
$148 Rp 2.7M
156.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$31.8K
$553 Rp 10.0M
208.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.0K
$373 Rp 6.8M
188.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$73.4K
$1,141 Rp 20.7M
245.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$114.6K
$802 Rp 14.6M
667.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
7.5
52.67%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Last update for Sidoarjo: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Sidoarjo
$148 61.1% $233
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Sidoarjo
$166 34.8% $89
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Sidoarjo
$51 74.7% $151
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Sidoarjo
$102 25.7% $35
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Sidoarjo
$117 4.8% $5.4
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Sidoarjo
$24 64.4% $43
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Sidoarjo
$13 73.6% $37

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $229 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 $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $11 in Sidoarjo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $166 – making Sidoarjo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇮🇩 Sidoarjo
🕒 Local time
10:13 10:13 AM
22:13 10:13 PM
12 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
201,115
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 27, 2026: 1 USD = 18.62 MXN (100 MXN = 5.37 USD). 1 EUR = 20.81 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 27, 2026: 1 USD = 18,145 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,281 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.93 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Sidoarjo 17,430 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Sidoarjo

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 Sidoarjo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sidoarjo cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 94%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,806 per month in Playa del Carmen and $932 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $229 there versus $980 in Playa del Carmen.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Sidoarjo?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,204 in Playa del Carmen and $622 in Sidoarjo. That’s a gap of about 94%.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 63% less in Sidoarjo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Sidoarjo?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sidoarjo, where all-in costs run around $622, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,204. 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Sidoarjo is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and the 94% gap matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

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