Cost of Living Comparison Between Tanjung Pinang and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Tanjung Pinang and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $692 per month in Tanjung Pinang vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,059 per month in Tanjung Pinang vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,425 per month in Tanjung Pinang vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

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

Both Tanjung Pinang and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Tanjung Pinang 48% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.58 Rp 61.8K

$11.94 MX$208

-70.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.53 Rp 216.3K

$42.75 MX$744

-70.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.41 Rp 58.9K

$10.59 MX$184

-67.80%

Cappuccino

$1.70 Rp 29.4K

$3.62 MX$63.0

-53.04%

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

$0.54 Rp 9,368

$1.47 MX$25.54

-63.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 Rp 4,874

$0.94 MX$16.41

-70.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 Rp 43.7K

$3.09 MX$53.8

-18.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 Rp 62.1K

$4.46 MX$77.6

-19.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 Rp 21.2K

$1.43 MX$24.80

-13.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.13 Rp 19.5K

$1.88 MX$32.79

-39.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 Rp 16.4K

$1.63 MX$28.34

-41.72%

Eggs

$1.43 Rp 24.7K

$2.64 MX$45.99

-45.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.24 Rp 142.2K

$8.21 MX$143

0.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.14 Rp 54.3K

$8.29 MX$144

-62.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.95 Rp 137.2K

$11.10 MX$193

-28.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 Rp 41.0K

$2.65 MX$46.14

-10.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 Rp 26.1K

$1.50 MX$26.11

0.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.86 Rp 32.1K

$1.99 MX$34.59

-6.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 Rp 25.8K

$2.08 MX$36.13

-27.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 Rp 22.8K

$1.79 MX$31.11

-26.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 Rp 32.6K

$2.18 MX$37.87

-13.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 Rp 15.3K

$1.08 MX$18.73

-17.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 Rp 7,226

$1.04 MX$18.04

-59.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 Rp 33.6K

$3.97 MX$69.1

-51.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.06 Rp 398.1K

$10.20 MX$178

126.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 Rp 36.4K

$1.73 MX$30.04

21.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 Rp 53.4K

$2.50 MX$43.46

23.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 Rp 5,137

$0.52 MX$9.02

-42.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.10 Rp 174.4K

$26.97 MX$469

-62.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 Rp 9,920

$3.14 MX$54.7

-81.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 Rp 5,946

$2.40 MX$41.80

-85.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 Rp 50.8K

$3.09 MX$53.7

-4.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 Rp 13.3K

$1.27 MX$22.16

-39.37%

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

$24.2K Rp 418.6M

$30.9K MX$537.3K

-21.49%

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

$27.9K Rp 482.5M

$23.3K MX$405.7K

19.85%

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

$69.9 Rp 1.2M

$82.0 MX$1,427

-14.78%

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

$4.36 Rp 75.3K

$22.45 MX$391

-80.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.55 Rp 389.3K

$29.66 MX$516

-23.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.25 Rp 401.5K

$51.9 MX$903

-55.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.22 Rp 107.3K

$18.67 MX$325

-66.68%

Cinema Ticket

$2.64 Rp 45.6K

$4.97 MX$86.5

-46.88%

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

$93.6 Rp 1.6M

$198 MX$3,442

-52.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,575 Rp 130.8M

$5,273 MX$91.7K

43.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.29 Rp 730.2K

$36.34 MX$632

16.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.77 Rp 531.3K

$40.05 MX$697

-23.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.1 Rp 1.1M

$79.9 MX$1,390

-17.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.3 Rp 1.3M

$88.9 MX$1,547

-16.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$261 Rp 4.5M

$963 MX$16.8K

-72.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 Rp 2.7M

$465 MX$8,086

-66.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$594 Rp 10.2M

$1,596 MX$27.8K

-62.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 Rp 5.8M

$1,209 MX$21.0K

-72.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,212 Rp 20.9M

$3,942 MX$68.6K

-69.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$797 Rp 13.8M

$6,448 MX$112.2K

-87.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$283 Rp 4.9M

$720 MX$12.5K

-60.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

11.42

-43.08%

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

Last update for Tanjung Pinang: April 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $261 in Tanjung Pinang versus $963 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 155% 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 $13.00 in Tanjung Pinang versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $212 vs $251 – making Tanjung Pinang 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 86%, 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 $1,038 per month in Tanjung Pinang and $1,930 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 Tanjung Pinang, 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 $692 in Tanjung Pinang and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 167% less in Tanjung Pinang. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tanjung Pinang, where all-in costs run around $692, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Tanjung Pinang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tanjung Pinang – 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 Tanjung Pinang. 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.