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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $644 per month in Semarang vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,036 per month in Semarang vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,429 per month in Semarang vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Semarang is about 49% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Semarang and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Semarang 52% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 Rp 32.1K

$11.99 MX$209

-85.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.50 Rp 224.6K

$41.78 MX$728

-70.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.64 Rp 65.4K

$10.75 MX$187

-66.14%

Cappuccino

$1.46 Rp 26.2K

$3.50 MX$60.9

-58.29%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 Rp 8,703

$1.45 MX$25.22

-66.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 Rp 4,829

$0.88 MX$15.41

-69.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 Rp 36.1K

$2.95 MX$51.3

-31.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 Rp 51.9K

$4.51 MX$78.6

-35.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 Rp 19.3K

$1.43 MX$24.94

-25.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 Rp 18.0K

$1.84 MX$31.99

-45.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 Rp 15.4K

$1.57 MX$27.31

-45.22%

Eggs

$1.59 Rp 28.5K

$2.51 MX$43.74

-36.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.13 Rp 110.1K

$8.28 MX$144

-25.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.82 Rp 50.6K

$8.43 MX$147

-66.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.48 Rp 152.4K

$10.68 MX$186

-20.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 Rp 46.6K

$2.61 MX$45.43

-0.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 Rp 28.7K

$1.44 MX$25.04

11.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 35.1K

$1.96 MX$34.16

-0.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.2K

$2.09 MX$36.47

-24.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 Rp 22.2K

$1.85 MX$32.24

-33.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.86 Rp 33.4K

$2.17 MX$37.74

-14.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 Rp 15.6K

$1.03 MX$17.96

-15.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 Rp 7,269

$1.07 MX$18.70

-62.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.29 Rp 41.2K

$4.10 MX$71.4

-44.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.53 Rp 243.1K

$10.17 MX$177

33.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 Rp 46.0K

$1.68 MX$29.17

52.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 Rp 50.8K

$2.53 MX$43.98

11.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 Rp 4,710

$0.51 MX$8.87

-49.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.96 Rp 232.9K

$26.04 MX$453

-50.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 Rp 15.7K

$3.23 MX$56.3

-73.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 Rp 5,572

$2.41 MX$41.88

-87.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.87 Rp 51.5K

$3.23 MX$56.2

-11.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.4K

$1.32 MX$23.00

-39.39%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.8K Rp 445.4M

$29.7K MX$517.1K

-16.54%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$30.4K Rp 546.4M

$23.7K MX$412.0K

28.50%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$92.7 Rp 1.7M

$82.0 MX$1,428

13.05%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

$22.95 MX$400

-88.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.45 Rp 421.5K

$30.11 MX$524

-22.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.69 Rp 425.7K

$52.0 MX$905

-54.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.24 Rp 94.1K

$18.53 MX$323

-71.72%

Cinema Ticket

$3.05 Rp 54.8K

$4.98 MX$86.6

-38.76%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$44.58 Rp 801.1K

$197 MX$3,438

-77.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,388 Rp 42.9M

$5,336 MX$92.9K

-55.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.26 Rp 651.6K

$35.60 MX$620

1.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.31 Rp 580.6K

$40.33 MX$702

-19.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.1 Rp 1.2M

$78.8 MX$1,371

-14.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.45 Rp 780.8K

$88.9 MX$1,549

-51.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 Rp 4.6M

$947 MX$16.5K

-73.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 Rp 2.7M

$474 MX$8,254

-67.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$544 Rp 9.8M

$1,644 MX$28.6K

-66.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$419 Rp 7.5M

$1,211 MX$21.1K

-65.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,179 Rp 21.2M

$4,056 MX$70.6K

-70.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$545 Rp 9.8M

$6,470 MX$112.7K

-91.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$189 Rp 3.4M

$654 MX$11.4K

-71.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.83

11.42

-31.44%

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

Last update for Semarang: July 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $255 in Semarang versus $947 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.

Salaries run about 246% 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 $12.00 in Semarang versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $249 – making Semarang 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

Semarang vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 95%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $966 per month in Semarang and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Semarang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $644 in Semarang and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 101% less in Semarang. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Semarang, where all-in costs run around $644, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Semarang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Semarang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Semarang. 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.