Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Yogyakarta Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Yogyakarta

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $652 in Yogyakarta, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,012 in Yogyakarta, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,371 in Yogyakarta, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 99% more than Yogyakarta, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Yogyakarta are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Yogyakarta 51% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Yogyakarta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$1.41 Rp 25.2K
731.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$721
$9.01 Rp 161.6K
361.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$3.12 Rp 55.9K
241.03%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$61.0
$1.46 Rp 26.1K
141.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.17
$0.53 Rp 9,555
184.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.87
$0.28 Rp 5,073
246.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.1
$2.43 Rp 43.6K
21.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.2
$3.30 Rp 59.2K
34.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Yogyakarta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.97
$1.22 Rp 22.0K
13.11%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.78
$1.37 Rp 24.5K
37.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.37
$0.82 Rp 14.8K
100.00%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.42
$1.33 Rp 23.8K
88.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$7.10 Rp 127.3K
17.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$3.28 Rp 58.9K
154.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
$8.13 Rp 145.8K
31.98%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.12
$2.37 Rp 42.4K
9.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.25
$1.46 Rp 26.1K
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.94
$1.36 Rp 24.4K
39.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.98
$1.03 Rp 18.5K
101.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.77
$1.08 Rp 19.3K
64.81%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.87
$1.74 Rp 31.2K
25.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$18.02
$0.46 Rp 8,187
126.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.66
$0.39 Rp 6,934
176.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.7
$2.53 Rp 45.4K
61.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$179
$16.85 Rp 302.0K
-38.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.67
$1.77 Rp 31.8K
-3.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.63
$3.30 Rp 59.1K
-21.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Yogyakarta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.83
$0.21 Rp 3,755
142.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$459
$9.79 Rp 175.5K
170.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.5
$0.47 Rp 8,428
593.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.17
$0.31 Rp 5,574
703.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.3
$4.19 Rp 75.0K
-22.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.65
$0.82 Rp 14.6K
59.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$524.7K
$19.2K Rp 344.5M
57.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$406.0K
$27.1K Rp 486.6M
-13.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Yogyakarta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,436
$73.7 Rp 1.3M
12.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$385
$4.31 Rp 77.3K
415.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$508
$19.59 Rp 351.1K
49.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Yogyakarta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$895
$15.17 Rp 272.0K
240.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
$3.05 Rp 54.7K
500.66%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.8
$2.82 Rp 50.5K
79.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Yogyakarta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,480
$72.5 Rp 1.3M
176.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.3K
$4,468 Rp 80.1M
16.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Yogyakarta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$640
$34.45 Rp 617.5K
7.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$689
$30.38 Rp 544.6K
30.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,360
$77.2 Rp 1.4M
1.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,509
$82.6 Rp 1.5M
5.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Yogyakarta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.9K
$194 Rp 3.5M
401.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,105
$171 Rp 3.1M
173.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$782 Rp 14.0M
109.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.2K
$386 Rp 6.9M
216.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.4K
$1,652 Rp 29.6M
138.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.6K
$223 Rp 4.0M
2816.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Yogyakarta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
$213 Rp 3.8M
211.19%
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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Yogyakarta: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $194 in Yogyakarta. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 211% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $9.00 in Yogyakarta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $190 – making Yogyakarta 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 Yogyakarta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yogyakarta cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 99%, 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 $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $978 in Yogyakarta. 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 Yogyakarta, 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 Yogyakarta?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $652 in Yogyakarta. 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 Yogyakarta. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Yogyakarta?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Yogyakarta, where all-in costs run around $652, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Yogyakarta it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Yogyakarta more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Yogyakarta – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Yogyakarta?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Yogyakarta. 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

Similar cities