Cost of Living Comparison Between South Tangerang and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between South Tangerang and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $684 per month in South Tangerang vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,040 per month in South Tangerang vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,396 per month in South Tangerang vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

South Tangerang is about 46% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both South Tangerang and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – South Tangerang 50% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.66 Rp 29.4K

$11.60 MX$200

-85.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.36 Rp 254.2K

$47.11 MX$812

-69.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.33 Rp 59.0K

$11.88 MX$205

-71.97%

Cappuccino

$1.58 Rp 27.9K

$3.98 MX$68.6

-60.30%

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

$0.46 Rp 8,163

$1.43 MX$24.60

-67.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 Rp 4,056

$0.82 MX$14.22

-71.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.71 Rp 48.0K

$3.19 MX$55.0

-15.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 Rp 54.8K

$6.79 MX$117

-54.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 Rp 22.2K

$1.68 MX$28.89

-25.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 Rp 17.8K

$2.20 MX$37.88

-54.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 Rp 15.2K

$1.71 MX$29.45

-49.71%

Eggs

$1.70 Rp 30.1K

$2.74 MX$47.26

-37.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.35 Rp 130.2K

$9.58 MX$165

-23.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.14 Rp 55.6K

$9.01 MX$155

-65.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.79 Rp 137.9K

$12.81 MX$221

-39.19%

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 Rp 52.6K

$2.89 MX$49.81

2.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.24 Rp 22.0K

$1.50 MX$25.81

-17.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 Rp 36.3K

$2.15 MX$37.03

-4.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.27 Rp 22.5K

$2.26 MX$38.96

-43.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.36 Rp 24.0K

$1.98 MX$34.15

-31.31%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 Rp 38.7K

$1.99 MX$34.30

9.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 Rp 14.3K

$1.23 MX$21.28

-34.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 Rp 8,530

$1.20 MX$20.63

-60.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.75 Rp 48.7K

$4.55 MX$78.5

-39.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.20 Rp 375.4K

$10.37 MX$179

104.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 Rp 35.2K

$1.62 MX$27.91

22.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 Rp 55.8K

$2.88 MX$49.67

9.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 Rp 3,880

$0.60 MX$10.35

-63.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.26 Rp 305.6K

$28.80 MX$497

-40.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,710

$5.39 MX$92.9

-90.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 Rp 5,732

$3.73 MX$64.3

-91.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.29 Rp 40.6K

$5.77 MX$99.5

-60.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 Rp 13.7K

$1.54 MX$26.48

-49.35%

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

$22.7K Rp 402.1M

$22.5K MX$388.8K

0.72%

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

$33.5K Rp 594.0M

$26.1K MX$449.3K

28.74%

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

$53.6 Rp 948.9K

$91.4 MX$1,576

-41.35%

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

$6.11 Rp 108.3K

$25.20 MX$435

-75.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.62 Rp 347.5K

$31.24 MX$539

-37.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.60 Rp 471.0K

$67.2 MX$1,159

-60.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.67 Rp 171.3K

$29.11 MX$502

-66.78%

Cinema Ticket

$2.90 Rp 51.3K

$4.86 MX$83.8

-40.33%

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

$120 Rp 2.1M

$224 MX$3,856

-46.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,452 Rp 149.7M

$4,229 MX$72.9K

99.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.27 Rp 713.0K

$47.10 MX$812

-14.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.41 Rp 520.8K

$44.29 MX$764

-33.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.5 Rp 1.3M

$80.1 MX$1,381

-7.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.6 Rp 1.3M

$92.7 MX$1,598

-21.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$214 Rp 3.8M

$1,063 MX$18.3K

-79.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$170 Rp 3.0M

$390 MX$6,728

-56.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$379 Rp 6.7M

$2,149 MX$37.1K

-82.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 Rp 5.5M

$1,272 MX$21.9K

-75.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,199 Rp 21.2M

$4,001 MX$69.0K

-70.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$969 Rp 17.2M

$6,502 MX$112.1K

-85.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$446 Rp 7.9M

$758 MX$13.1K

-41.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.46

11.45

-17.38%

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

Last update for South Tangerang: September 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $214 in South Tangerang versus $1,063 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 70% 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 $14.00 in South Tangerang versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $207 vs $276 – making South Tangerang 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 85%, 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 $1,026 per month in South Tangerang and $1,899 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 South Tangerang, 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 $684 in South Tangerang and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 67% less in South Tangerang. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in South Tangerang, where all-in costs run around $684, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In South Tangerang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward South Tangerang – 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 South Tangerang. 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.