😐A single person spends $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $628 in Sidoarjo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $981 in Sidoarjo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,362 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,335 in Sidoarjo, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 108% more than Sidoarjo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Sidoarjo are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Sidoarjo54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96MX$202
$1.65Rp 29.1K
624.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.38MX$801
$11.09Rp 195.4K
327.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.75MX$199
$3.25Rp 57.3K
261.54%
Cappuccino
$4.12MX$69.7
$0.59Rp 10.3K
598.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.66
$0.43Rp 7,555
225.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.43
$0.28Rp 4,958
225.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21MX$54.2
$2.22Rp 39.1K
44.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07MX$120
$4.13Rp 72.8K
71.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.35
$1.23Rp 21.7K
36.59%
White Bread(500g)
$2.15MX$36.36
$0.99Rp 17.5K
117.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$30.00
$0.89Rp 15.7K
98.88%
Eggs
$2.82MX$47.60
$1.19Rp 21.0K
136.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20MX$156
$7.80Rp 137.5K
17.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.23MX$156
$1.88Rp 33.1K
390.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.64MX$214
$5.71Rp 100.6K
121.37%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$49.90
$0.94Rp 16.6K
213.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58MX$26.70
$0.59Rp 10.4K
167.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22MX$37.58
$0.77Rp 13.5K
188.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$39.96
$0.58Rp 10.2K
306.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.70
$0.77Rp 13.5K
158.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98MX$33.47
$1.01Rp 17.7K
96.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$20.97
$0.27Rp 4,705
359.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21MX$20.48
$0.40Rp 7,094
202.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60MX$77.8
$1.96Rp 34.6K
134.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.52MX$178
$25.37Rp 446.8K
-58.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69MX$28.60
$1.70Rp 29.9K
-0.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77MX$46.91
$2.90Rp 51.0K
-4.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.19
$0.29Rp 5,115
106.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.70MX$502
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.24MX$88.5
$0.41Rp 7,173
1178.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.65MX$61.7
$0.38Rp 6,737
860.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$97.8
$1.12Rp 19.7K
416.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.01
$0.82Rp 14.4K
87.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$385.5K
$24.8KRp 436.1M
-7.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KMX$436.5K
$32.8KRp 578.0M
-21.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$90.7MX$1,533
$86.9Rp 1.5M
4.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19MX$426
$4.87Rp 85.7K
417.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75MX$537
$11.19Rp 197.1K
183.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,163
$20.05Rp 353.1K
243.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37MX$497
$8.41Rp 148.1K
249.23%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$82.2
$2.72Rp 47.8K
78.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$226MX$3,816
$95.6Rp 1.7M
136.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,194MX$70.9K
$9,813Rp 172.8M
-57.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38MX$801
$70.6Rp 1.2M
-32.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45MX$735
$40.14Rp 707.0K
8.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.2MX$1,356
$81.4Rp 1.4M
-1.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4MX$1,545
$76.1Rp 1.3M
20.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,086MX$18.4K
$221Rp 3.9M
391.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$409MX$6,910
$157Rp 2.8M
160.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,972MX$33.3K
$556Rp 9.8M
254.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,281MX$21.7K
$373Rp 6.6M
243.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,046MX$68.4K
$1,166Rp 20.5M
246.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,704MX$113.4K
$678Rp 11.9M
888.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Sidoarjo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$773MX$13.1K
-
-
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: September 7, 2026
Last update for Sidoarjo: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $221 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $11.00 in Sidoarjo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $278 vs $170 – 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 108%, 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 $1,958 per month in Playa del Carmen and $942 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 $1,305 in Playa del Carmen and $628 in Sidoarjo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $226 per month in Playa del Carmen and $95.6 in Sidoarjo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
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 $628, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. 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