🙂A single person spends $1,151 per month in Sanur, Bali vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,035 per month in Sanur, Bali vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,920 per month in Sanur, Bali vs $2,990 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
$2.80Rp 50.6K
$11.72MX$203
-76.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.09Rp 471.0K
$41.89MX$725
-37.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.05Rp 73.2K
$10.51MX$182
-61.47%
Cappuccino
$2.14Rp 38.6K
$3.59MX$62.0
-40.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08Rp 19.6K
$1.51MX$26.10
-28.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58Rp 10.5K
$0.92MX$15.83
-36.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.36Rp 42.6K
$2.96MX$51.2
-20.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16Rp 57.0K
$4.41MX$76.3
-28.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62Rp 29.2K
$1.40MX$24.16
15.71%
White Bread(500g)
$2.22Rp 40.0K
$1.88MX$32.60
18.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.04Rp 18.8K
$1.56MX$26.97
-33.33%
Eggs
$2.21Rp 39.8K
$2.61MX$45.14
-15.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.37Rp 241.5K
$8.32MX$144
60.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.90Rp 70.5K
$8.35MX$145
-53.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.72Rp 193.6K
$10.86MX$188
-1.29%
Apples(1kg)
$3.42Rp 61.8K
$2.71MX$46.93
26.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47Rp 26.5K
$1.51MX$26.04
-2.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.56Rp 46.2K
$1.87MX$32.41
36.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09Rp 37.7K
$2.19MX$37.89
-4.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.80Rp 32.5K
$1.86MX$32.14
-3.23%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06Rp 37.1K
$2.23MX$38.59
-7.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92Rp 16.6K
$1.07MX$18.48
-14.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66Rp 11.9K
$1.09MX$18.79
-39.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.96Rp 53.4K
$4.19MX$72.4
-29.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.05Rp 380.1K
$10.43MX$180
101.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.59Rp 46.8K
$1.66MX$28.68
56.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61Rp 47.2K
$2.61MX$45.19
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26Rp 4,662
$0.54MX$9.37
-51.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.84Rp 141.5K
$26.16MX$453
-70.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.44Rp 7,939
$3.08MX$53.3
-85.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.40Rp 7,267
$2.40MX$41.61
-83.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.86Rp 105.8K
$3.13MX$54.1
87.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83Rp 14.9K
$1.31MX$22.69
-36.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5KRp 442.9M
$29.8KMX$515.7K
-17.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.0KRp 560.2M
$23.3KMX$403.5K
33.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$76.1Rp 1.4M
$81.3MX$1,406
-6.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.79Rp 68.5K
$22.56MX$390
-83.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.91Rp 413.6K
$30.05MX$520
-23.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$72.1Rp 1.3M
$52.9MX$915
36.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.78Rp 86.2K
$18.39MX$318
-74.01%
Cinema Ticket
$2.99Rp 53.9K
$4.92MX$85.1
-39.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$275Rp 5.0M
$201MX$3,474
37.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,946Rp 107.3M
$5,175MX$89.5K
14.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.47Rp 875.0K
$35.92MX$622
34.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.23Rp 618.0K
$40.13MX$694
-14.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5Rp 1.4M
$79.7MX$1,379
-1.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.6Rp 1.3M
$86.5MX$1,496
-19.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$732Rp 13.2M
$978MX$16.9K
-25.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$498Rp 9.0M
$470MX$8,140
5.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,495Rp 45.1M
$1,651MX$28.6K
51.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,523Rp 27.5M
$1,203MX$20.8K
26.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,012Rp 36.3M
$3,953MX$68.4K
-49.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,679Rp 30.3M
$6,607MX$114.3K
-74.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sanur, Bali
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$677MX$11.7K
-
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: July 28, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $732 in Sanur, Bali versus $978 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 $26.00 in Sanur, Bali versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $271 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 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 $1,727 per month in Sanur, Bali and $1,890 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 $1,151 in Sanur, Bali and $1,260 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 234% 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 $1,151, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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