🙂A single person spends $1,162 per month in Sanur, Bali vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,039 per month in Sanur, Bali vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,917 per month in Sanur, Bali vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Sanur, Bali is about 9% 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, Bali14% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.69Rp 48.2K
$11.87MX$204
-77.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.49Rp 456.6K
$42.90MX$736
-40.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.04Rp 72.4K
$10.65MX$183
-62.07%
Cappuccino
$2.24Rp 40.2K
$3.45MX$59.2
-35.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04Rp 18.6K
$1.50MX$25.81
-30.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60Rp 10.7K
$0.95MX$16.28
-36.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.31Rp 41.3K
$3.03MX$51.9
-23.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10Rp 55.6K
$4.61MX$79.1
-32.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.58Rp 28.3K
$1.38MX$23.61
14.49%
White Bread(500g)
$2.22Rp 39.8K
$1.85MX$31.70
20.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.09Rp 19.5K
$1.61MX$27.65
-32.30%
Eggs
$2.13Rp 38.1K
$2.59MX$44.51
-17.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.38Rp 239.7K
$8.26MX$142
61.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.76Rp 67.3K
$8.37MX$144
-55.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.85Rp 194.3K
$10.66MX$183
1.78%
Apples(1kg)
$3.32Rp 59.4K
$2.63MX$45.12
26.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.40Rp 25.2K
$1.49MX$25.53
-6.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.52Rp 45.1K
$1.92MX$32.94
31.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02Rp 36.2K
$2.09MX$35.81
-3.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.82Rp 32.6K
$1.86MX$31.88
-2.15%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09Rp 37.4K
$2.26MX$38.81
-7.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92Rp 16.5K
$1.06MX$18.23
-13.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70Rp 12.5K
$1.09MX$18.67
-35.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.86Rp 51.2K
$4.15MX$71.2
-31.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.06Rp 377.3K
$10.39MX$178
102.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.55Rp 45.7K
$1.72MX$29.59
48.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55Rp 45.7K
$2.61MX$44.85
-2.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26Rp 4,633
$0.54MX$9.30
-51.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.01Rp 143.5K
$26.94MX$462
-70.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.43Rp 7,725
$3.13MX$53.7
-86.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43Rp 7,736
$2.51MX$43.09
-82.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.97Rp 107.0K
$3.15MX$54.1
89.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83Rp 14.9K
$1.27MX$21.88
-34.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7KRp 442.6M
$30.4KMX$521.3K
-18.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1KRp 557.8M
$23.6KMX$404.5K
32.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$76.9Rp 1.4M
$83.0MX$1,425
-7.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.93Rp 70.4K
$22.71MX$390
-82.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.65Rp 405.8K
$29.46MX$506
-23.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$71.4Rp 1.3M
$51.0MX$875
40.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.90Rp 87.7K
$18.33MX$315
-73.27%
Cinema Ticket
$2.97Rp 53.2K
$4.93MX$84.5
-39.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$277Rp 5.0M
$197MX$3,386
40.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,894Rp 105.6M
$5,280MX$90.6K
11.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.1Rp 897.2K
$36.90MX$633
35.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.57Rp 619.4K
$39.89MX$685
-13.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.4Rp 1.4M
$80.0MX$1,373
-2.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7Rp 1.2M
$89.5MX$1,536
-22.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$727Rp 13.0M
$956MX$16.4K
-23.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$494Rp 8.9M
$477MX$8,189
3.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,511Rp 45.0M
$1,646MX$28.3K
52.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,550Rp 27.8M
$1,225MX$21.0K
26.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,043Rp 36.6M
$3,918MX$67.2K
-47.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,699Rp 30.4M
$6,459MX$110.9K
-73.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$667MX$11.4K
-
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: June 6, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $727 in Sanur, Bali versus $956 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 $25.00 in Sanur, Bali versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $269 in Sanur, Bali vs $250 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 9%, 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 $1,742 per month in Sanur, Bali and $1,906 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 $1,162 in Sanur, Bali and $1,271 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 236% 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 $1,162, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. 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