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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $527 per month in Surakarta vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $849 per month in Surakarta vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,172 per month in Surakarta vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Surakarta is about 58% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Surakarta and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Surakarta 62% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.66 Rp 29.3K

$11.60 MX$200

-85.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.67 Rp 206.6K

$47.11 MX$812

-75.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.14 Rp 55.7K

$11.88 MX$205

-73.57%

Cappuccino

$1.59 Rp 28.2K

$3.98 MX$68.6

-60.05%

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

$0.49 Rp 8,756

$1.43 MX$24.60

-65.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 Rp 4,051

$0.82 MX$14.22

-71.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.43 Rp 25.3K

$3.19 MX$55.0

-55.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 51.4K

$6.79 MX$117

-57.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 Rp 16.1K

$1.68 MX$28.89

-45.83%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 Rp 13.3K

$2.20 MX$37.88

-65.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

$1.71 MX$29.45

-54.97%

Eggs

$1.01 Rp 17.9K

$2.74 MX$47.26

-63.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.02 Rp 142.0K

$9.58 MX$165

-16.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.75 Rp 30.9K

$9.01 MX$155

-80.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.35 Rp 94.8K

$12.81 MX$221

-58.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 Rp 37.4K

$2.89 MX$49.81

-26.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 Rp 22.5K

$1.50 MX$25.81

-15.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 Rp 34.4K

$2.15 MX$37.03

-9.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 Rp 25.8K

$2.26 MX$38.96

-35.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 Rp 24.4K

$1.98 MX$34.15

-30.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 Rp 29.6K

$1.99 MX$34.30

-16.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 Rp 10.3K

$1.23 MX$21.28

-52.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 Rp 7,247

$1.20 MX$20.63

-65.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.00 Rp 35.4K

$4.55 MX$78.5

-56.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.57 Rp 151.7K

$10.37 MX$179

-17.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 Rp 30.8K

$1.62 MX$27.91

7.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 Rp 51.6K

$2.88 MX$49.67

1.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 Rp 6,862

$0.60 MX$10.35

-35.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.73 Rp 402.5K

$28.80 MX$497

-21.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 Rp 9,109

$5.39 MX$92.9

-90.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 Rp 8,269

$3.73 MX$64.3

-87.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 Rp 47.8K

$5.77 MX$99.5

-53.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 Rp 12.9K

$1.54 MX$26.48

-52.60%

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

$25.4K Rp 450.5M

$22.5K MX$388.8K

12.83%

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

$33.5K Rp 592.7M

$26.1K MX$449.3K

28.46%

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

$81.3 Rp 1.4M

$91.4 MX$1,576

-11.06%

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

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

$25.20 MX$435

-91.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.91 Rp 334.8K

$31.24 MX$539

-39.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.12 Rp 285.5K

$67.2 MX$1,159

-76.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.56 Rp 151.6K

$29.11 MX$502

-70.59%

Cinema Ticket

$2.00 Rp 35.5K

$4.86 MX$83.8

-58.85%

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

$33.61 Rp 595.2K

$224 MX$3,856

-84.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,873 Rp 33.2M

$4,229 MX$72.9K

-55.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.2 Rp 1.0M

$47.10 MX$812

25.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.91 Rp 653.5K

$44.29 MX$764

-16.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.7 Rp 1.3M

$80.1 MX$1,381

-10.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.3 Rp 1.2M

$92.7 MX$1,598

-27.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$1,063 MX$18.3K

-84.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$57.0 Rp 1.0M

$390 MX$6,728

-85.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$341 Rp 6.0M

$2,149 MX$37.1K

-84.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$197 Rp 3.5M

$1,272 MX$21.9K

-84.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

$758 MX$13.1K

-78.51%

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 Surakarta: September 15, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $167 in Surakarta 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 365% 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 $12.00 in Surakarta versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $152 vs $276 – making Surakarta 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 140%, 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 $790 per month in Surakarta 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 Surakarta, 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 $527 in Surakarta 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 27% less in Surakarta. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Surakarta, where all-in costs run around $527, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Surakarta it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Surakarta – 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 Surakarta. 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.