🙂A single person spends $628 per month in Sidoarjo vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $981 per month in Sidoarjo vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,335 per month in Sidoarjo vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Sidoarjo is about 52% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Sidoarjo and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Sidoarjo54% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.65Rp 29.1K
$11.96MX$202
-86.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.09Rp 195.4K
$47.38MX$801
-76.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.25Rp 57.3K
$11.75MX$199
-72.34%
Cappuccino
$0.59Rp 10.3K
$4.12MX$69.7
-85.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43Rp 7,555
$1.40MX$23.66
-69.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 4,958
$0.91MX$15.43
-69.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22Rp 39.1K
$3.21MX$54.2
-30.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13Rp 72.8K
$7.07MX$120
-41.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23Rp 21.7K
$1.68MX$28.35
-26.79%
White Bread(500g)
$0.99Rp 17.5K
$2.15MX$36.36
-53.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.89Rp 15.7K
$1.77MX$30.00
-49.72%
Eggs
$1.19Rp 21.0K
$2.82MX$47.60
-57.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.80Rp 137.5K
$9.20MX$156
-15.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$1.88Rp 33.1K
$9.23MX$156
-79.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.71Rp 100.6K
$12.64MX$214
-54.83%
Apples(1kg)
$0.94Rp 16.6K
$2.95MX$49.90
-68.14%
Banana(1kg)
$0.59Rp 10.4K
$1.58MX$26.70
-62.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.77Rp 13.5K
$2.22MX$37.58
-65.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.58Rp 10.2K
$2.36MX$39.96
-75.42%
Potato(1kg)
$0.77Rp 13.5K
$1.99MX$33.70
-61.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.01Rp 17.7K
$1.98MX$33.47
-48.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.27Rp 4,705
$1.24MX$20.97
-78.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40Rp 7,094
$1.21MX$20.48
-66.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.96Rp 34.6K
$4.60MX$77.8
-57.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.37Rp 446.8K
$10.52MX$178
141.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70Rp 29.9K
$1.69MX$28.60
0.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90Rp 51.0K
$2.77MX$46.91
4.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,115
$0.60MX$10.19
-51.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.70MX$502
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.41Rp 7,173
$5.24MX$88.5
-92.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38Rp 6,737
$3.65MX$61.7
-89.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.12Rp 19.7K
$5.78MX$97.8
-80.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82Rp 14.4K
$1.54MX$26.01
-46.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8KRp 436.1M
$22.8KMX$385.5K
8.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8KRp 578.0M
$25.8KMX$436.5K
27.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$86.9Rp 1.5M
$90.7MX$1,533
-4.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.87Rp 85.7K
$25.19MX$426
-80.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.19Rp 197.1K
$31.75MX$537
-64.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.05Rp 353.1K
$68.8MX$1,163
-70.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.41Rp 148.1K
$29.37MX$497
-71.37%
Cinema Ticket
$2.72Rp 47.8K
$4.86MX$82.2
-44.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$95.6Rp 1.7M
$226MX$3,816
-57.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,813Rp 172.8M
$4,194MX$70.9K
133.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.6Rp 1.2M
$47.38MX$801
49.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.14Rp 707.0K
$43.45MX$735
-7.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.4Rp 1.4M
$80.2MX$1,356
1.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.1Rp 1.3M
$91.4MX$1,545
-16.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$221Rp 3.9M
$1,086MX$18.4K
-79.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$157Rp 2.8M
$409MX$6,910
-61.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$556Rp 9.8M
$1,972MX$33.3K
-71.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$373Rp 6.6M
$1,281MX$21.7K
-70.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,166Rp 20.5M
$4,046MX$68.4K
-71.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$678Rp 11.9M
$6,704MX$113.4K
-89.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$773MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.5
11.45
-34.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sidoarjo: September 6, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $221 in Sidoarjo versus $1,086 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 $11.00 in Sidoarjo versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $170 vs $278 – 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 108%, 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 $942 per month in Sidoarjo and $1,958 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $628 in Sidoarjo and $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $95.6 per month in Sidoarjo and $226 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Sidoarjo or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sidoarjo, where all-in costs run around $628, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. 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.