🙂A single person spends $640 per month in Yogyakarta vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,007 per month in Yogyakarta vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,374 per month in Yogyakarta vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Yogyakarta is about 49% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Yogyakarta and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Yogyakarta52% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yogyakarta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.40Rp 25.2K
$11.99MX$209
-88.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.47Rp 170.1K
$41.78MX$728
-77.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.05Rp 54.9K
$10.75MX$187
-71.63%
Cappuccino
$1.47Rp 26.4K
$3.50MX$60.9
-58.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51Rp 9,132
$1.45MX$25.22
-64.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,638
$0.88MX$15.41
-70.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51Rp 45.1K
$2.95MX$51.3
-14.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30Rp 59.2K
$4.51MX$78.6
-26.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yogyakarta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.16Rp 20.8K
$1.43MX$24.94
-18.88%
White Bread(500g)
$1.38Rp 24.8K
$1.84MX$31.99
-25.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87Rp 15.6K
$1.57MX$27.31
-44.59%
Eggs
$1.34Rp 24.0K
$2.51MX$43.74
-46.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.88Rp 123.7K
$8.28MX$144
-16.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.18Rp 57.1K
$8.43MX$147
-62.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.14Rp 146.2K
$10.68MX$186
-23.78%
Apples(1kg)
$2.41Rp 43.3K
$2.61MX$45.43
-7.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44Rp 26.0K
$1.44MX$25.04
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.43Rp 25.7K
$1.96MX$34.16
-27.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.09Rp 19.6K
$2.09MX$36.47
-47.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.10Rp 19.8K
$1.85MX$32.24
-40.54%
Onion(1kg)
$1.77Rp 31.9K
$2.17MX$37.74
-18.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.46Rp 8,278
$1.03MX$17.96
-55.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41Rp 7,384
$1.07MX$18.70
-61.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.53Rp 45.4K
$4.10MX$71.4
-38.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.65Rp 353.1K
$10.17MX$177
93.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85Rp 33.2K
$1.68MX$29.17
10.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15Rp 56.5K
$2.53MX$43.98
24.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Yogyakarta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.21Rp 3,762
$0.51MX$8.87
-58.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.79Rp 176.0K
$26.04MX$453
-62.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,605
$3.23MX$56.3
-85.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,600
$2.41MX$41.88
-87.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.33Rp 77.9K
$3.23MX$56.2
34.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.6K
$1.32MX$23.00
-38.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KRp 336.5M
$29.7KMX$517.1K
-36.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1KRp 487.8M
$23.7KMX$412.0K
14.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yogyakarta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$72.1Rp 1.3M
$82.0MX$1,428
-12.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.32Rp 77.7K
$22.95MX$400
-81.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.43Rp 349.1K
$30.11MX$524
-35.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yogyakarta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.52Rp 279.0K
$52.0MX$905
-70.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.09Rp 55.5K
$18.53MX$323
-83.32%
Cinema Ticket
$2.70Rp 48.5K
$4.98MX$86.6
-45.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yogyakarta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$72.4Rp 1.3M
$197MX$3,438
-63.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,410Rp 79.2M
$5,336MX$92.9K
-17.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yogyakarta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.43Rp 600.9K
$35.60MX$620
-6.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.34Rp 545.3K
$40.33MX$702
-24.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.5Rp 1.4M
$78.8MX$1,371
-1.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.0Rp 1.5M
$88.9MX$1,549
-7.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yogyakarta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$194Rp 3.5M
$947MX$16.5K
-79.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$172Rp 3.1M
$474MX$8,254
-63.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$762Rp 13.7M
$1,644MX$28.6K
-53.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$392Rp 7.0M
$1,211MX$21.1K
-67.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,642Rp 29.5M
$4,056MX$70.6K
-59.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$216Rp 3.9M
$6,470MX$112.7K
-96.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yogyakarta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$212Rp 3.8M
$654MX$11.4K
-67.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.33
11.42
-27.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Yogyakarta: July 11, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $194 in Yogyakarta versus $947 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 209% 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 $9.00 in Yogyakarta versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $195 vs $249 – 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 96%, 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 $960 per month in Yogyakarta and $1,884 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 $640 in Yogyakarta and $1,256 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 166% 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 $640, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. 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.
Yogyakarta vs other spots: cost of living compared