😐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 Carmen6% lower, Sidoarjo52% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67MX$202
$1.51Rp 26.0K
672.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88MX$726
$12.44Rp 213.8K
236.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.40MX$180
$3.12Rp 53.7K
233.33%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$0.63Rp 10.8K
473.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.45
$0.51Rp 8,692
188.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.80
$0.26Rp 4,410
250.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$2.44Rp 41.9K
24.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47MX$77.4
$4.07Rp 70.0K
9.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.83
$1.37Rp 23.6K
0.73%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.93
$1.08Rp 18.5K
70.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.82
$0.99Rp 17.0K
62.63%
Eggs
$2.57MX$44.52
$1.43Rp 24.5K
79.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$9.28Rp 159.4K
-8.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$2.53Rp 43.5K
235.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.99MX$190
$6.18Rp 106.2K
77.83%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.25
$0.96Rp 16.4K
184.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.92
$0.60Rp 10.3K
150.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.93
$0.82Rp 14.0K
139.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.70
$0.63Rp 10.9K
236.51%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.30
$0.79Rp 13.6K
135.44%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.67
$1.08Rp 18.5K
100.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.59
$0.30Rp 5,099
256.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05MX$18.18
$0.42Rp 7,245
150.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.6
$2.09Rp 35.9K
100.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.28MX$178
$26.16Rp 449.6K
-60.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.87
$1.83Rp 31.5K
-8.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49MX$43.12
$3.30Rp 56.8K
-24.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$0.32Rp 5,517
68.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.27MX$455
$9.74Rp 167.4K
169.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10MX$53.8
$0.44Rp 7,583
604.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.66
$0.31Rp 5,390
693.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.1
$1.26Rp 21.6K
157.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.83
$0.84Rp 14.4K
50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$522.8K
$20.6KRp 354.1M
46.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.3K
$34.7KRp 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)
$84.0MX$1,456
$82.7Rp 1.4M
1.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21MX$385
$4.09Rp 70.3K
443.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65MX$514
$12.33Rp 211.9K
140.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6MX$912
$23.18Rp 398.4K
127.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34MX$318
$6.02Rp 103.5K
204.65%
Cinema Ticket
$4.95MX$85.7
$2.98Rp 51.2K
66.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,438
$191Rp 3.3M
3.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,322MX$92.2K
$9,506Rp 163.4M
-44.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95MX$623
$62.8Rp 1.1M
-42.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06MX$694
$38.51Rp 661.9K
4.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,365
$78.7Rp 1.4M
0.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,499
$84.1Rp 1.4M
2.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977MX$16.9K
$256Rp 4.4M
281.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$471MX$8,158
$160Rp 2.8M
193.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595MX$27.6K
$576Rp 9.9M
177.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,215MX$21.1K
$335Rp 5.8M
262.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,032MX$69.9K
$1,246Rp 21.4M
223.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,579MX$114.0K
$787Rp 13.5M
736.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$714MX$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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared