🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $499 in Beruwala versus $1,330 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $821 in Beruwala versus $2,336 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,143 in Beruwala versus $3,341 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Beruwala costs roughly 62% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Beruwala64% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beruwala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.20LKR 1,387
$13.02MX$221
-67.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.75LKR 8,494
$46.25MX$784
-44.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.65LKR 2,525
$12.59MX$213
-39.24%
Cappuccino
$2.39LKR 788
$4.00MX$67.9
-40.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69LKR 228
$1.42MX$24.08
-51.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25LKR 81.8
$0.81MX$13.73
-69.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.17LKR 716
$3.05MX$51.7
-28.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04LKR 1,004
$6.82MX$116
-55.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beruwala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.59LKR 526
$1.71MX$29.04
-7.02%
White Bread(500g)
$0.47LKR 154
$2.22MX$37.62
-78.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.75LKR 247
$1.72MX$29.13
-56.40%
Eggs
$1.53LKR 504
$2.71MX$45.99
-43.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.74LKR 4,203
$9.37MX$159
35.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.87LKR 1,607
$8.86MX$150
-45.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.89LKR 2,272
$12.78MX$217
-46.09%
Apples(1kg)
$6.78LKR 2,236
$3.13MX$53.0
116.61%
Banana(1kg)
$0.84LKR 277
$1.55MX$26.24
-45.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.56LKR 1,504
$2.15MX$36.51
112.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.23LKR 404
$2.35MX$39.89
-47.66%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94LKR 309
$2.02MX$34.23
-53.47%
Onion(1kg)
$0.73LKR 241
$1.99MX$33.67
-63.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.93LKR 308
$1.24MX$21.09
-25.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45LKR 148
$1.19MX$20.21
-62.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.11LKR 3,334
$4.65MX$78.8
117.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.21LKR 4,358
$10.47MX$177
26.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86LKR 614
$1.58MX$26.82
17.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55LKR 842
$2.92MX$49.48
-12.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Beruwala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.56MX$9.53
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.76MX$504
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.41LKR 135
$5.32MX$90.2
-92.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34LKR 113
$3.72MX$63.0
-90.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.92LKR 303
$5.78MX$97.9
-84.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24LKR 408
$1.55MX$26.27
-20.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6KLKR 9.8M
$22.4KMX$379.1K
32.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1KLKR 12.9M
$25.6KMX$433.3K
53.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beruwala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$51.3LKR 16.9K
$89.3MX$1,513
-42.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.15LKR 1,368
$23.30MX$395
-82.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.72LKR 6,834
$31.72MX$538
-34.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beruwala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$68.8MX$1,165
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.40MX$498
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.26LKR 1,404
$5.06MX$85.7
-15.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beruwala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$37.25LKR 12.3K
$222MX$3,765
-83.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,194LKR 393.9K
$4,293MX$72.7K
-72.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beruwala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.84LKR 6,545
$46.21MX$783
-57.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.66LKR 5,496
$44.43MX$753
-62.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.2LKR 26.8K
$95.5MX$1,618
-14.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.37LKR 13.6K
$92.5MX$1,568
-55.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beruwala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,069MX$18.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$393MX$6,663
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,988MX$33.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,304MX$22.1K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,037MX$68.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,627MX$112.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beruwala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$151LKR 49.7K
$747MX$12.7K
-79.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.69
11.6
9.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Beruwala: August 16, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Playa del Carmen pays 396% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $26.00 in Beruwala vs $46.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 vs $277 per month, with Beruwala cheaper across the board.
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
Beruwala vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Beruwala?
Beruwala is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 166% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Beruwala or Playa del Carmen?
On paper, salaries run 396% lower in Playa del Carmen. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do food prices compare in Beruwala and in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Beruwala and in Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $499 per month in Beruwala versus $1,330 in Playa del Carmen – a 166% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Beruwala or in Playa del Carmen?
At $499 in Beruwala versus $1,330 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Beruwala but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Beruwala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Beruwala or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Beruwala is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Beruwala or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Beruwala and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Beruwala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 166% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.