🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $582 in Hikkaduwa versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,102 in Hikkaduwa versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,621 in Hikkaduwa versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Hikkaduwa costs roughly 55% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Hikkaduwa57% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Hikkaduwa
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.04LKR 1,286
$11.94MX$208
-66.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.16LKR 8,016
$42.75MX$744
-41.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.40LKR 2,677
$10.59MX$184
-20.68%
Cappuccino
$2.65LKR 844
$3.62MX$63.0
-26.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70LKR 222
$1.47MX$25.54
-52.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32LKR 101
$0.94MX$16.41
-65.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.30LKR 732
$3.09MX$53.8
-25.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26LKR 1,039
$4.46MX$77.6
-26.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hikkaduwa
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67LKR 533
$1.43MX$24.80
16.78%
White Bread(500g)
$0.55LKR 177
$1.88MX$32.79
-70.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.81LKR 257
$1.63MX$28.34
-50.31%
Eggs
$2.20LKR 701
$2.64MX$45.99
-16.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.96LKR 4,449
$8.21MX$143
70.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.71LKR 1,500
$8.29MX$144
-43.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.95LKR 2,532
$11.10MX$193
-28.38%
Apples(1kg)
$7.41LKR 2,362
$2.65MX$46.14
179.62%
Banana(1kg)
$0.32LKR 101
$1.50MX$26.11
-78.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.76LKR 879
$1.99MX$34.59
38.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.02LKR 325
$2.08MX$36.13
-50.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11LKR 354
$1.79MX$31.11
-37.99%
Onion(1kg)
$0.36LKR 115
$2.18MX$37.87
-83.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18LKR 377
$1.08MX$18.73
9.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55LKR 177
$1.04MX$18.04
-47.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.19LKR 3,245
$3.97MX$69.1
156.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.31LKR 3,923
$10.20MX$178
20.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10LKR 669
$1.73MX$30.04
21.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99LKR 954
$2.50MX$43.46
19.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Hikkaduwa
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32LKR 102
$0.52MX$9.02
-38.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.97MX$469
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.39LKR 124
$3.14MX$54.7
-87.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33LKR 105
$2.40MX$41.80
-86.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.57LKR 183
$3.09MX$53.7
-81.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26LKR 401
$1.27MX$22.16
-0.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3KLKR 8.4M
$30.9KMX$537.3K
-14.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.2KLKR 10.9M
$23.3KMX$405.7K
46.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hikkaduwa
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$59.4LKR 18.9K
$82.0MX$1,427
-27.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.22LKR 1,344
$22.45MX$391
-81.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.01LKR 4,783
$29.66MX$516
-49.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hikkaduwa
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$51.9MX$903
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.67MX$325
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.40LKR 1,085
$4.97MX$86.5
-31.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hikkaduwa
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$37.48LKR 11.9K
$198MX$3,442
-81.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$448LKR 142.8K
$5,273MX$91.7K
-91.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hikkaduwa
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.91LKR 8,893
$36.34MX$632
-23.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.04LKR 6,066
$40.05MX$697
-52.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.8LKR 22.2K
$79.9MX$1,390
-12.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.27LKR 12.2K
$88.9MX$1,547
-56.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hikkaduwa
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$170LKR 54.2K
$963MX$16.8K
-82.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$82.5LKR 26.3K
$465MX$8,086
-82.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,663LKR 529.7K
$1,596MX$27.8K
4.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$512LKR 163.1K
$1,209MX$21.0K
-57.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,942MX$68.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,448MX$112.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hikkaduwa
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$720MX$12.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
16.45
11.42
44.05%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Hikkaduwa: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $170 in Hikkaduwa and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $25.00 in Hikkaduwa vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $251 per month, with Hikkaduwa cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Hikkaduwa vs Playa del Carmen: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Hikkaduwa?
Hikkaduwa is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 121% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $874 in Hikkaduwa and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Hikkaduwa and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $170 in Hikkaduwa versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Hikkaduwa and Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 7% 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 Hikkaduwa vs Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $582 per month in Hikkaduwa versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – a 121% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Hikkaduwa or Playa del Carmen?
At $582 in Hikkaduwa versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Hikkaduwa but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Hikkaduwa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Hikkaduwa or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Hikkaduwa 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Hikkaduwa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 121% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Hikkaduwa vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado