🙂A single person spends $1,143 per month in Sanur, Bali vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,905 per month in Sanur, Bali vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,667 per month in Sanur, Bali vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Sanur, Bali is about 10% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Sanur, Bali and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Sanur, Bali16% lower, Playa del Carmen7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.65Rp 46.9K
$11.60MX$200
-77.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.65Rp 508.0K
$47.11MX$811
-39.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.30Rp 76.2K
$11.88MX$205
-63.80%
Cappuccino
$2.19Rp 38.8K
$3.98MX$68.5
-44.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45Rp 25.7K
$1.43MX$24.57
1.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68Rp 12.1K
$0.82MX$14.20
-17.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41Rp 42.8K
$3.19MX$54.9
-24.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44Rp 61.0K
$6.79MX$117
-49.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46Rp 25.8K
$1.68MX$28.85
-13.10%
White Bread(500g)
$2.10Rp 37.3K
$2.20MX$37.83
-4.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.06Rp 18.9K
$1.71MX$29.41
-38.01%
Eggs
$1.89Rp 33.6K
$2.74MX$47.20
-31.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.10Rp 285.5K
$9.58MX$165
68.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.70Rp 65.6K
$9.01MX$155
-58.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38Rp 201.8K
$12.81MX$221
-11.16%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28Rp 58.2K
$2.89MX$49.74
13.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47Rp 26.1K
$1.50MX$25.78
-2.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.07Rp 36.6K
$2.15MX$36.98
-3.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.78Rp 31.5K
$2.26MX$38.91
-21.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.73Rp 30.6K
$1.98MX$34.10
-12.63%
Onion(1kg)
$2.13Rp 37.7K
$1.99MX$34.26
7.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90Rp 16.0K
$1.23MX$21.25
-26.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50Rp 8,926
$1.20MX$20.60
-58.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.08Rp 37.0K
$4.55MX$78.3
-54.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.77Rp 368.4K
$10.37MX$179
100.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16Rp 38.4K
$1.62MX$27.88
33.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76Rp 48.9K
$2.88MX$49.60
-4.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24Rp 4,214
$0.60MX$10.34
-60.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.75Rp 137.4K
$28.80MX$496
-73.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.43Rp 7,627
$5.39MX$92.8
-92.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rp 7,922
$3.73MX$64.2
-87.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.85Rp 103.8K
$5.77MX$99.3
1.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76Rp 13.6K
$1.54MX$26.45
-50.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7KRp 419.7M
$22.5KMX$388.3K
4.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6KRp 524.7M
$26.1KMX$448.7K
13.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$77.5Rp 1.4M
$91.4MX$1,573
-15.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.10Rp 108.1K
$25.20MX$434
-75.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.08Rp 320.7K
$31.24MX$538
-42.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.44Rp 735.0K
$67.2MX$1,157
-38.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.60Rp 241.2K
$29.11MX$501
-53.28%
Cinema Ticket
$3.34Rp 59.3K
$4.86MX$83.7
-31.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$450Rp 8.0M
$224MX$3,851
101.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,199Rp 92.2M
$4,229MX$72.8K
22.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.74Rp 740.2K
$47.10MX$811
-11.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.57Rp 577.6K
$44.29MX$763
-26.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.0Rp 1.3M
$80.1MX$1,379
-10.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8Rp 1.3M
$92.7MX$1,596
-22.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$821Rp 14.6M
$1,063MX$18.3K
-22.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$512Rp 9.1M
$390MX$6,719
31.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696Rp 47.8M
$2,149MX$37.0K
25.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,265Rp 22.4M
$1,272MX$21.9K
-0.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,081Rp 36.9M
$4,001MX$68.9K
-47.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,736Rp 30.8M
$6,502MX$112.0K
-73.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$758MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
11.45
20.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sanur, Bali: September 14, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $821 in Sanur, Bali versus $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. 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 $29.00 in Sanur, Bali versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $268 vs $276 – making Sanur, Bali 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
Sanur, Bali vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Sanur, Bali?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 11%, 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 $1,715 per month in Sanur, Bali and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen. 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 Sanur, Bali, 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 Sanur, Bali and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,143 in Sanur, Bali and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. 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 272% less in Sanur, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Sanur, Bali or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sanur, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,143, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Sanur, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sanur, Bali or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sanur, Bali – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Sanur, Bali or Playa del Carmen?
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 Sanur, Bali. 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.
Sanur, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared