🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $505 in Beruwala versus $1,215 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $825 in Beruwala versus $2,144 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,144 in Beruwala versus $3,072 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Beruwala costs roughly 58% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Beruwala62% lower, Playa del Carmen9% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beruwala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.32LKR 1,429
$10.97MX$197
-60.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.61LKR 8,144
$44.85MX$806
-45.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.50LKR 2,483
$11.92MX$214
-37.08%
Cappuccino
$2.42LKR 801
$3.80MX$68.4
-36.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73LKR 243
$1.31MX$23.58
-44.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25LKR 81.8
$0.86MX$15.39
-70.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.19LKR 724
$3.21MX$57.7
-31.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09LKR 1,023
$5.01MX$90.1
-38.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beruwala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63LKR 538
$1.46MX$26.21
11.64%
White Bread(500g)
$0.53LKR 177
$2.33MX$41.83
-77.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.76LKR 251
$1.44MX$25.93
-47.22%
Eggs
$1.57LKR 519
$2.46MX$44.25
-36.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68LKR 4,526
$7.70MX$138
77.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.01LKR 1,658
$7.89MX$142
-36.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.23LKR 2,393
$12.80MX$230
-43.52%
Apples(1kg)
$6.94LKR 2,298
$2.92MX$52.4
137.67%
Banana(1kg)
$0.79LKR 261
$1.42MX$25.56
-44.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.61LKR 1,524
$2.57MX$46.12
79.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.27LKR 419
$2.14MX$38.42
-40.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.00LKR 330
$1.95MX$35.00
-48.72%
Onion(1kg)
$0.82LKR 270
$1.94MX$34.80
-57.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.95LKR 315
$1.15MX$20.69
-17.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47LKR 156
$1.22MX$21.95
-61.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.33LKR 3,418
$4.38MX$78.7
135.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.77LKR 4,557
$9.85MX$177
39.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97LKR 651
$1.54MX$27.64
27.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05LKR 1,008
$2.72MX$48.81
12.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Beruwala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.52MX$9.44
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$27.42MX$493
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.38LKR 124
$4.91MX$88.3
-92.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38LKR 125
$3.52MX$63.3
-89.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.90LKR 297
$5.69MX$102
-84.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35LKR 445
$1.54MX$27.68
-12.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4KLKR 12.0M
$21.2KMX$381.8K
71.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.6KLKR 13.4M
$24.5KMX$440.2K
65.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beruwala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$54.2LKR 17.9K
$83.6MX$1,503
-35.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.21LKR 1,392
$24.03MX$432
-82.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.75LKR 6,866
$29.33MX$527
-29.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beruwala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$64.9MX$1,166
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.46MX$530
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.46LKR 1,477
$5.09MX$91.4
-12.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beruwala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$37.96LKR 12.6K
$208MX$3,733
-81.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,202LKR 397.6K
$4,045MX$72.7K
-70.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beruwala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.02LKR 5,963
$44.55MX$801
-59.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.67LKR 5,516
$42.06MX$756
-60.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.1LKR 25.8K
$75.5MX$1,358
3.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.70LKR 14.1K
$91.4MX$1,642
-53.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beruwala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$986MX$17.7K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$385MX$6,924
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,713MX$30.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,108MX$19.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,016MX$72.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,247MX$112.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beruwala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$152LKR 50.4K
$758MX$13.6K
-79.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.69
11.45
10.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Beruwala: October 5, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 4, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Playa del Carmen pays 398% 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: $25.00 in Beruwala vs $45.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $240 vs $260 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 141% 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 398% 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 8% 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 $505 per month in Beruwala versus $1,215 in Playa del Carmen – a 141% 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 $505 in Beruwala versus $1,215 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 141% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.