😐A single person spends $1,259 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $657 in Sidoarjo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,177 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $997 in Sidoarjo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,095 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,337 in Sidoarjo, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 92% 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, Sidoarjo51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.95MX$209
$1.57Rp 28.2K
661.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.94MX$734
$12.45Rp 223.3K
236.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.42MX$182
$2.99Rp 53.6K
248.49%
Cappuccino
$3.51MX$61.5
$0.58Rp 10.4K
505.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52MX$26.53
$0.47Rp 8,356
223.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.93
$0.26Rp 4,618
250.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.04MX$53.2
$2.39Rp 43.0K
27.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37MX$76.5
$3.89Rp 69.8K
12.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42MX$24.86
$1.42Rp 25.5K
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.83MX$32.03
$1.08Rp 19.3K
69.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.60
$0.93Rp 16.7K
75.27%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.43
$1.43Rp 25.6K
77.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.57MX$150
$9.24Rp 165.8K
-7.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$149
$2.64Rp 47.3K
221.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.80MX$189
$6.32Rp 113.4K
70.89%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75MX$48.19
$0.94Rp 16.8K
192.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.13
$0.64Rp 11.4K
125.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89MX$33.00
$0.77Rp 13.7K
145.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.96
$0.64Rp 11.4K
239.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$31.13
$0.79Rp 14.1K
125.32%
Onion(1kg)
$2.22MX$38.91
$1.12Rp 20.1K
98.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.70
$0.30Rp 5,346
256.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.89
$0.43Rp 7,657
151.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$72.5
$2.18Rp 39.1K
90.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.45MX$183
$24.74Rp 443.6K
-57.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74MX$30.50
$1.77Rp 31.8K
-1.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$45.16
$3.20Rp 57.5K
-19.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.98
$0.32Rp 5,800
59.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.94MX$454
$9.94Rp 178.4K
160.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.21MX$56.2
$0.48Rp 8,659
568.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.50MX$43.78
$0.31Rp 5,635
706.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.19MX$55.7
$1.24Rp 22.3K
157.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.98
$0.77Rp 13.9K
63.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$519.3K
$20.7KRp 371.0M
43.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$414.3K
$34.8KRp 624.6M
-31.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$81.8Rp 1.5M
0.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.73MX$398
$4.22Rp 75.7K
438.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.42MX$515
$12.18Rp 218.4K
141.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.2MX$913
$23.39Rp 419.5K
123.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.45MX$323
$6.24Rp 111.9K
195.67%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$86.3
$2.88Rp 51.6K
71.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$202MX$3,530
$188Rp 3.4M
7.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,217MX$91.3K
$9,435Rp 169.2M
-44.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93MX$629
$61.0Rp 1.1M
-41.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$706
$38.68Rp 693.7K
4.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,397
$79.1Rp 1.4M
1.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3MX$1,562
$82.4Rp 1.5M
8.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$948MX$16.6K
$261Rp 4.7M
263.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,140
$155Rp 2.8M
200.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,630MX$28.5K
$582Rp 10.4M
179.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,193MX$20.9K
$339Rp 6.1M
251.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,933MX$68.8K
$1,180Rp 21.2M
233.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,428MX$112.4K
$703Rp 12.6M
814.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$658MX$11.5K
-
-
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: July 20, 2026
Last update for Sidoarjo: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $948 in Playa del Carmen versus $261 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $12.00 in Sidoarjo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $185 – 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 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 $1,888 per month in Playa del Carmen and $985 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 and in Sidoarjo?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,259 in Playa del Carmen and $657 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 161% less in Sidoarjo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Sidoarjo?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sidoarjo, where all-in costs run around $657, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,259. 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