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 $1,259 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 Carmen 6% lower, Sidoarjo 51% lower.

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

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