🙂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 – Yogyakarta50% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yogyakarta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.11Rp 19.7K
$11.71MX$198
-90.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.68Rp 241.9K
$46.59MX$788
-70.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.43Rp 60.7K
$11.65MX$197
-70.56%
Cappuccino
$1.28Rp 22.6K
$4.09MX$69.2
-68.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37Rp 6,619
$1.37MX$23.23
-72.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23Rp 4,060
$0.83MX$14.09
-72.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53Rp 44.7K
$3.35MX$56.7
-24.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60Rp 63.7K
$6.91MX$117
-47.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yogyakarta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24Rp 22.0K
$1.73MX$29.20
-28.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.09Rp 19.2K
$2.26MX$38.21
-51.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.78Rp 13.8K
$1.77MX$29.91
-55.93%
Eggs
$1.32Rp 23.3K
$2.73MX$46.19
-51.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.71Rp 100.9K
$9.18MX$155
-37.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.07Rp 54.3K
$8.92MX$151
-65.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.68Rp 100.4K
$12.60MX$213
-54.92%
Apples(1kg)
$2.74Rp 48.4K
$3.02MX$51.1
-9.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26Rp 22.4K
$1.57MX$26.55
-19.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.18Rp 20.9K
$2.13MX$35.93
-44.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.95Rp 16.8K
$2.26MX$38.28
-57.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.07Rp 19.0K
$2.00MX$33.88
-46.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.05Rp 36.2K
$2.06MX$34.90
-0.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.41Rp 7,183
$1.18MX$19.94
-65.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48Rp 8,535
$1.20MX$20.35
-60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.79Rp 49.4K
$4.63MX$78.4
-39.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.08Rp 355.1K
$10.69MX$181
87.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25Rp 39.8K
$1.62MX$27.38
38.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76Rp 66.6K
$2.88MX$48.70
30.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Yogyakarta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20Rp 3,587
$0.57MX$9.69
-64.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.95Rp 158.3K
$29.83MX$504
-70.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44Rp 25.5K
$5.45MX$92.1
-73.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.39Rp 6,889
$3.70MX$62.6
-89.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.59Rp 81.2K
$5.98MX$101
-23.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.72Rp 12.8K
$1.55MX$26.26
-53.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.8KRp 279.4M
$22.3KMX$377.4K
-29.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5KRp 485.6M
$25.9KMX$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)
$67.7Rp 1.2M
$89.1MX$1,507
-24.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.76Rp 84.2K
$25.04MX$423
-80.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.46Rp 361.9K
$31.50MX$532
-35.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yogyakarta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.43Rp 697.2K
$67.8MX$1,146
-41.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.92MX$489
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.53Rp 44.7K
$5.05MX$85.4
-49.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yogyakarta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$86.3Rp 1.5M
$225MX$3,803
-61.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,149Rp 73.4M
$4,222MX$71.4K
-1.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yogyakarta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8Rp 968.2K
$47.44MX$802
15.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.80Rp 580.1K
$44.98MX$760
-27.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.2Rp 1.5M
$82.0MX$1,386
5.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.5Rp 1.7M
$92.1MX$1,557
1.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yogyakarta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$218Rp 3.9M
$1,069MX$18.1K
-79.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$161Rp 2.8M
$405MX$6,852
-60.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$590Rp 10.4M
$1,935MX$32.7K
-69.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$134Rp 2.4M
$1,301MX$22.0K
-89.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,688Rp 29.8M
$3,995MX$67.5K
-57.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$227Rp 4.0M
$6,626MX$112.0K
-96.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yogyakarta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$228Rp 4.0M
$749MX$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.
Yogyakarta vs other spots: cost of living compared