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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $683 per month in Yogyakarta vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $944 per month in Yogyakarta vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,206 per month in Yogyakarta vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Yogyakarta is about 47% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Yogyakarta and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Yogyakarta 50% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yogyakarta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.11 Rp 19.7K
$11.71 MX$198
-90.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.68 Rp 241.9K
$46.59 MX$788
-70.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.43 Rp 60.7K
$11.65 MX$197
-70.56%
Cappuccino
$1.28 Rp 22.6K
$4.09 MX$69.2
-68.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 Rp 6,619
$1.37 MX$23.23
-72.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 Rp 4,060
$0.83 MX$14.09
-72.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 Rp 44.7K
$3.35 MX$56.7
-24.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 Rp 63.7K
$6.91 MX$117
-47.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yogyakarta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 Rp 22.0K
$1.73 MX$29.20
-28.32%
White Bread (500g)
$1.09 Rp 19.2K
$2.26 MX$38.21
-51.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
$1.77 MX$29.91
-55.93%
Eggs
$1.32 Rp 23.3K
$2.73 MX$46.19
-51.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.71 Rp 100.9K
$9.18 MX$155
-37.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.07 Rp 54.3K
$8.92 MX$151
-65.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.68 Rp 100.4K
$12.60 MX$213
-54.92%
Apples (1kg)
$2.74 Rp 48.4K
$3.02 MX$51.1
-9.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 Rp 22.4K
$1.57 MX$26.55
-19.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.18 Rp 20.9K
$2.13 MX$35.93
-44.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.95 Rp 16.8K
$2.26 MX$38.28
-57.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.07 Rp 19.0K
$2.00 MX$33.88
-46.50%
Onion (1kg)
$2.05 Rp 36.2K
$2.06 MX$34.90
-0.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.41 Rp 7,183
$1.18 MX$19.94
-65.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 Rp 8,535
$1.20 MX$20.35
-60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.79 Rp 49.4K
$4.63 MX$78.4
-39.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.08 Rp 355.1K
$10.69 MX$181
87.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25 Rp 39.8K
$1.62 MX$27.38
38.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 Rp 66.6K
$2.88 MX$48.70
30.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Yogyakarta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 Rp 3,587
$0.57 MX$9.69
-64.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.95 Rp 158.3K
$29.83 MX$504
-70.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 Rp 25.5K
$5.45 MX$92.1
-73.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.39 Rp 6,889
$3.70 MX$62.6
-89.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.59 Rp 81.2K
$5.98 MX$101
-23.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.72 Rp 12.8K
$1.55 MX$26.26
-53.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.8K Rp 279.4M
$22.3K MX$377.4K
-29.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K Rp 485.6M
$25.9K MX$438.7K
5.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yogyakarta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.7 Rp 1.2M
$89.1 MX$1,507
-24.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.76 Rp 84.2K
$25.04 MX$423
-80.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.46 Rp 361.9K
$31.50 MX$532
-35.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yogyakarta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.43 Rp 697.2K
$67.8 MX$1,146
-41.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.92 MX$489
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.53 Rp 44.7K
$5.05 MX$85.4
-49.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yogyakarta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$86.3 Rp 1.5M
$225 MX$3,803
-61.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,149 Rp 73.4M
$4,222 MX$71.4K
-1.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yogyakarta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 Rp 968.2K
$47.44 MX$802
15.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.80 Rp 580.1K
$44.98 MX$760
-27.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.2 Rp 1.5M
$82.0 MX$1,386
5.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.5 Rp 1.7M
$92.1 MX$1,557
1.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yogyakarta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$218 Rp 3.9M
$1,069 MX$18.1K
-79.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$161 Rp 2.8M
$405 MX$6,852
-60.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$590 Rp 10.4M
$1,935 MX$32.7K
-69.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$134 Rp 2.4M
$1,301 MX$22.0K
-89.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,688 Rp 29.8M
$3,995 MX$67.5K
-57.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$227 Rp 4.0M
$6,626 MX$112.0K
-96.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yogyakarta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$228 Rp 4.0M
$749 MX$12.7K
-69.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.45
11.45
-26.20%

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

Last update for Yogyakarta: August 29, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $218 in Yogyakarta versus $1,069 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 228% 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 Yogyakarta versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $186 vs $277 – making Yogyakarta 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
Yogyakarta vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Yogyakarta?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 90%, 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 $1,024 per month in Yogyakarta and $1,940 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 Yogyakarta, 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 Yogyakarta and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $683 in Yogyakarta and $1,293 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 233% less in Yogyakarta. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Yogyakarta or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Yogyakarta, where all-in costs run around $683, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Yogyakarta it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Yogyakarta or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Yogyakarta – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Yogyakarta or Playa del Carmen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Yogyakarta. 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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