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

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Sidoarjo 54% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.65 Rp 29.1K
$11.96 MX$202
-86.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.09 Rp 195.4K
$47.38 MX$801
-76.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.25 Rp 57.3K
$11.75 MX$199
-72.34%
Cappuccino
$0.59 Rp 10.3K
$4.12 MX$69.7
-85.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 Rp 7,555
$1.40 MX$23.66
-69.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 Rp 4,958
$0.91 MX$15.43
-69.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.22 Rp 39.1K
$3.21 MX$54.2
-30.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13 Rp 72.8K
$7.07 MX$120
-41.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 Rp 21.7K
$1.68 MX$28.35
-26.79%
White Bread (500g)
$0.99 Rp 17.5K
$2.15 MX$36.36
-53.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.89 Rp 15.7K
$1.77 MX$30.00
-49.72%
Eggs
$1.19 Rp 21.0K
$2.82 MX$47.60
-57.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.80 Rp 137.5K
$9.20 MX$156
-15.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$1.88 Rp 33.1K
$9.23 MX$156
-79.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.71 Rp 100.6K
$12.64 MX$214
-54.83%
Apples (1kg)
$0.94 Rp 16.6K
$2.95 MX$49.90
-68.14%
Banana (1kg)
$0.59 Rp 10.4K
$1.58 MX$26.70
-62.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.77 Rp 13.5K
$2.22 MX$37.58
-65.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.58 Rp 10.2K
$2.36 MX$39.96
-75.42%
Potato (1kg)
$0.77 Rp 13.5K
$1.99 MX$33.70
-61.31%
Onion (1kg)
$1.01 Rp 17.7K
$1.98 MX$33.47
-48.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.27 Rp 4,705
$1.24 MX$20.97
-78.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 Rp 7,094
$1.21 MX$20.48
-66.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.96 Rp 34.6K
$4.60 MX$77.8
-57.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$25.37 Rp 446.8K
$10.52 MX$178
141.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 Rp 29.9K
$1.69 MX$28.60
0.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 Rp 51.0K
$2.77 MX$46.91
4.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,115
$0.60 MX$10.19
-51.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$29.70 MX$502
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.41 Rp 7,173
$5.24 MX$88.5
-92.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 Rp 6,737
$3.65 MX$61.7
-89.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.12 Rp 19.7K
$5.78 MX$97.8
-80.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 14.4K
$1.54 MX$26.01
-46.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K Rp 436.1M
$22.8K MX$385.5K
8.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8K Rp 578.0M
$25.8K MX$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)
$86.9 Rp 1.5M
$90.7 MX$1,533
-4.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.87 Rp 85.7K
$25.19 MX$426
-80.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.19 Rp 197.1K
$31.75 MX$537
-64.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.05 Rp 353.1K
$68.8 MX$1,163
-70.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.41 Rp 148.1K
$29.37 MX$497
-71.37%
Cinema Ticket
$2.72 Rp 47.8K
$4.86 MX$82.2
-44.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$95.6 Rp 1.7M
$226 MX$3,816
-57.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,813 Rp 172.8M
$4,194 MX$70.9K
133.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.6 Rp 1.2M
$47.38 MX$801
49.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.14 Rp 707.0K
$43.45 MX$735
-7.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.4 Rp 1.4M
$80.2 MX$1,356
1.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.1 Rp 1.3M
$91.4 MX$1,545
-16.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$221 Rp 3.9M
$1,086 MX$18.4K
-79.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$157 Rp 2.8M
$409 MX$6,910
-61.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$556 Rp 9.8M
$1,972 MX$33.3K
-71.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$373 Rp 6.6M
$1,281 MX$21.7K
-70.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,166 Rp 20.5M
$4,046 MX$68.4K
-71.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$678 Rp 11.9M
$6,704 MX$113.4K
-89.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sidoarjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$773 MX$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.

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