🙂A single person spends $654 per month in Sidoarjo vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $995 per month in Sidoarjo vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,336 per month in Sidoarjo vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Sidoarjo is about 49% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Sidoarjo and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Sidoarjo51% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.56Rp 28.2K
$11.87MX$207
-86.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.08Rp 219.0K
$42.90MX$749
-71.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.05Rp 55.3K
$10.65MX$186
-71.36%
Cappuccino
$0.63Rp 11.4K
$3.45MX$60.2
-81.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51Rp 9,182
$1.50MX$26.24
-66.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,108
$0.95MX$16.56
-70.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.47Rp 44.9K
$3.03MX$52.8
-18.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91Rp 70.8K
$4.61MX$80.4
-15.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43Rp 26.0K
$1.38MX$24.01
3.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.13Rp 20.5K
$1.85MX$32.24
-38.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93Rp 16.8K
$1.61MX$28.11
-42.24%
Eggs
$1.49Rp 27.1K
$2.59MX$45.26
-42.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.47Rp 171.7K
$8.26MX$144
14.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.63Rp 47.7K
$8.37MX$146
-68.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.99Rp 108.7K
$10.66MX$186
-43.81%
Apples(1kg)
$0.96Rp 17.4K
$2.63MX$45.89
-63.50%
Banana(1kg)
$0.58Rp 10.6K
$1.49MX$25.96
-61.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.77Rp 14.0K
$1.92MX$33.50
-59.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.64Rp 11.5K
$2.09MX$36.41
-69.38%
Potato(1kg)
$0.82Rp 14.9K
$1.86MX$32.42
-55.91%
Onion(1kg)
$1.14Rp 20.7K
$2.26MX$39.47
-49.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.32Rp 5,822
$1.06MX$18.54
-69.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43Rp 7,725
$1.09MX$18.98
-60.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.17Rp 39.3K
$4.15MX$72.4
-47.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$24.30Rp 440.7K
$10.39MX$181
133.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80Rp 32.6K
$1.72MX$30.09
4.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15Rp 57.0K
$2.61MX$45.60
20.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,370
$0.54MX$9.46
-44.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.01Rp 181.6K
$26.94MX$470
-62.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.44Rp 8,000
$3.13MX$54.6
-85.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,652
$2.51MX$43.82
-87.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.21Rp 22.0K
$3.15MX$55.0
-61.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83Rp 15.0K
$1.27MX$22.25
-34.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0KRp 381.1M
$30.4KMX$530.1K
-30.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6KRp 627.7M
$23.6KMX$411.3K
46.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.6Rp 1.5M
$83.0MX$1,449
0.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.17Rp 75.7K
$22.71MX$396
-81.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.45Rp 225.8K
$29.46MX$514
-57.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.42Rp 424.8K
$51.0MX$890
-54.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.00Rp 108.9K
$18.33MX$320
-67.27%
Cinema Ticket
$2.88Rp 52.3K
$4.93MX$86.0
-41.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$192Rp 3.5M
$197MX$3,444
-2.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,550Rp 173.2M
$5,280MX$92.1K
80.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.9Rp 1.1M
$36.90MX$644
67.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.38Rp 696.0K
$39.89MX$696
-3.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.3Rp 1.4M
$80.0MX$1,396
-3.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.2Rp 1.5M
$89.5MX$1,561
-6.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$256Rp 4.6M
$956MX$16.7K
-73.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$160Rp 2.9M
$477MX$8,327
-66.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$591Rp 10.7M
$1,646MX$28.7K
-64.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$330Rp 6.0M
$1,225MX$21.4K
-73.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,187Rp 21.5M
$3,918MX$68.4K
-69.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$728Rp 13.2M
$6,459MX$112.7K
-88.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$667MX$11.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.33
11.42
-27.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sidoarjo: June 6, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $256 in Sidoarjo 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 $12.00 in Sidoarjo versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $184 vs $250 – making Sidoarjo 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
Sidoarjo vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Sidoarjo?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 94%, 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 $981 per month in Sidoarjo 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 Sidoarjo, 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 Sidoarjo vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $654 in Sidoarjo 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 169% less in Sidoarjo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Sidoarjo or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sidoarjo, where all-in costs run around $654, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Sidoarjo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sidoarjo or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sidoarjo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Sidoarjo. 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.