Cost of Living Comparison Between Sanur, Bali and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Sanur, Bali and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,135 per month in Sanur, Bali vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,030 per month in Sanur, Bali vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,924 per month in Sanur, Bali vs $2,999 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, Bali 15% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.74 Rp 46.9K
$11.67 MX$202
-76.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.61 Rp 438.7K
$41.88 MX$725
-38.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.93 Rp 67.3K
$10.40 MX$180
-62.21%
Cappuccino
$2.25 Rp 38.6K
$3.61 MX$62.6
-37.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 Rp 18.5K
$1.47 MX$25.44
-26.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 Rp 10.1K
$0.91 MX$15.79
-35.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 Rp 40.5K
$3.03 MX$52.5
-22.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 Rp 52.4K
$4.47 MX$77.4
-31.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 Rp 26.8K
$1.38 MX$23.82
13.04%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 Rp 38.0K
$1.84 MX$31.91
20.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.05 Rp 18.0K
$1.61 MX$27.80
-34.78%
Eggs
$2.14 Rp 36.6K
$2.57 MX$44.49
-16.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.10 Rp 224.4K
$8.49 MX$147
54.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.94 Rp 67.4K
$8.49 MX$147
-53.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.74 Rp 183.9K
$10.99 MX$190
-2.27%
Apples (1kg)
$3.42 Rp 58.5K
$2.73 MX$47.23
25.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 Rp 24.8K
$1.50 MX$25.90
-3.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.47 Rp 42.3K
$1.96 MX$33.91
26.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 Rp 36.5K
$2.12 MX$36.68
0.47%
Potato (1kg)
$1.74 Rp 29.8K
$1.86 MX$32.28
-6.45%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 Rp 34.1K
$2.17 MX$37.65
-8.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.96 Rp 16.5K
$1.07 MX$18.58
-10.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.0K
$1.05 MX$18.17
-33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.86 Rp 49.1K
$4.19 MX$72.6
-31.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.09 Rp 361.2K
$10.28 MX$178
105.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.60 Rp 44.6K
$1.67 MX$28.85
55.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 Rp 42.9K
$2.49 MX$43.09
0.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 Rp 4,415
$0.54 MX$9.37
-51.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.97 Rp 136.4K
$26.27 MX$455
-69.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.43 Rp 7,376
$3.10 MX$53.8
-86.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.41 Rp 6,938
$2.46 MX$42.64
-83.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.82 Rp 99.7K
$3.24 MX$56.0
79.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 13.8K
$1.26 MX$21.82
-35.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K Rp 422.7M
$30.2K MX$522.5K
-18.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1K Rp 533.4M
$23.4K MX$406.1K
32.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.1 Rp 1.3M
$84.0 MX$1,455
-8.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.87 Rp 66.3K
$22.21 MX$385
-82.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.08 Rp 395.3K
$29.65 MX$514
-22.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$72.6 Rp 1.2M
$52.6 MX$912
37.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.00 Rp 85.6K
$18.34 MX$318
-72.74%
Cinema Ticket
$2.97 Rp 50.8K
$4.95 MX$85.7
-40.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$268 Rp 4.6M
$198 MX$3,436
35.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,096 Rp 104.4M
$5,322 MX$92.2K
14.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.71 Rp 851.4K
$35.95 MX$623
38.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.21 Rp 586.0K
$40.06 MX$694
-14.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$78.8 MX$1,365
0.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6 Rp 1.2M
$86.5 MX$1,498
-18.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$728 Rp 12.5M
$977 MX$16.9K
-25.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$499 Rp 8.5M
$471 MX$8,153
6.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,561 Rp 43.9M
$1,595 MX$27.6K
60.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,516 Rp 26.0M
$1,215 MX$21.0K
24.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,199 Rp 37.7M
$4,032 MX$69.8K
-45.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,744 Rp 29.9M
$6,579 MX$113.9K
-73.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$714 MX$12.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
11.42
16.29%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Sanur, Bali: April 20, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $728 in Sanur, Bali versus $977 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 $26 in Sanur, Bali versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $270 in Sanur, Bali vs $252 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 $1,703 per month in Sanur, Bali and $1,891 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,135 in Sanur, Bali and $1,261 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 230% less in Sanur, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Sanur, Bali or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sanur, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,135, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,261. 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.

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