🙂A single person spends $649 per month in Sidoarjo vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $990 per month in Sidoarjo vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,331 per month in Sidoarjo vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Sidoarjo is about 48% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Sidoarjo and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Sidoarjo52% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.51Rp 26.0K
$11.67MX$202
-87.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.44Rp 213.8K
$41.88MX$726
-70.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.12Rp 53.7K
$10.40MX$180
-70.00%
Cappuccino
$0.63Rp 10.8K
$3.61MX$62.6
-82.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51Rp 8,692
$1.47MX$25.45
-65.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,410
$0.91MX$15.80
-71.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44Rp 41.9K
$3.03MX$52.6
-19.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.07Rp 70.0K
$4.47MX$77.4
-8.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37Rp 23.6K
$1.38MX$23.83
-0.72%
White Bread(500g)
$1.08Rp 18.5K
$1.84MX$31.93
-41.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.99Rp 17.0K
$1.61MX$27.82
-38.51%
Eggs
$1.43Rp 24.5K
$2.57MX$44.52
-44.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.28Rp 159.4K
$8.49MX$147
9.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.53Rp 43.5K
$8.49MX$147
-70.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.18Rp 106.2K
$10.99MX$190
-43.77%
Apples(1kg)
$0.96Rp 16.4K
$2.73MX$47.25
-64.84%
Banana(1kg)
$0.60Rp 10.3K
$1.50MX$25.92
-60.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.82Rp 14.0K
$1.96MX$33.93
-58.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.63Rp 10.9K
$2.12MX$36.70
-70.28%
Potato(1kg)
$0.79Rp 13.6K
$1.86MX$32.30
-57.53%
Onion(1kg)
$1.08Rp 18.5K
$2.17MX$37.67
-50.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.30Rp 5,099
$1.07MX$18.59
-71.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,245
$1.05MX$18.18
-60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.09Rp 35.9K
$4.19MX$72.6
-50.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$26.16Rp 449.6K
$10.28MX$178
154.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83Rp 31.5K
$1.67MX$28.87
9.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30Rp 56.8K
$2.49MX$43.12
32.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,517
$0.54MX$9.37
-40.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.74Rp 167.4K
$26.27MX$455
-62.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.44Rp 7,583
$3.10MX$53.8
-85.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,390
$2.46MX$42.66
-87.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.26Rp 21.6K
$3.24MX$56.1
-61.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84Rp 14.4K
$1.26MX$21.83
-33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.6KRp 354.1M
$30.2KMX$522.8K
-31.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7KRp 596.9M
$23.4KMX$406.3K
48.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.7Rp 1.4M
$84.0MX$1,456
-1.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09Rp 70.3K
$22.21MX$385
-81.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.33Rp 211.9K
$29.65MX$514
-58.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.18Rp 398.4K
$52.6MX$912
-55.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.02Rp 103.5K
$18.34MX$318
-67.18%
Cinema Ticket
$2.98Rp 51.2K
$4.95MX$85.7
-39.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$191Rp 3.3M
$198MX$3,438
-3.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,506Rp 163.4M
$5,322MX$92.2K
78.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.8Rp 1.1M
$35.95MX$623
74.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.51Rp 661.9K
$40.06MX$694
-3.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.7Rp 1.4M
$78.8MX$1,365
-0.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1Rp 1.4M
$86.5MX$1,499
-2.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$256Rp 4.4M
$977MX$16.9K
-73.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$160Rp 2.8M
$471MX$8,158
-65.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$576Rp 9.9M
$1,595MX$27.6K
-63.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$335Rp 5.8M
$1,215MX$21.1K
-72.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,246Rp 21.4M
$4,032MX$69.9K
-69.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$787Rp 13.5M
$6,579MX$114.0K
-88.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$714MX$12.4K
-
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: April 20, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $256 in Sidoarjo 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 $12 in Sidoarjo versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $187 vs $252 – 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 $974 per month in Sidoarjo 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 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 $649 in Sidoarjo 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 170% 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 $649, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,261. 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.