🙂A single person spends $518 per month in Kataragama vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $856 per month in Kataragama vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,194 per month in Kataragama vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Kataragama is about 60% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Kataragama and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Kataragama61% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Kataragama
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.97LKR 1,265
$11.94MX$208
-66.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.22LKR 8,036
$42.75MX$744
-41.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.58LKR 2,733
$10.59MX$184
-18.98%
Cappuccino
$2.64LKR 840
$3.62MX$63.0
-27.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69LKR 219
$1.47MX$25.54
-53.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37LKR 119
$0.94MX$16.41
-60.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.38LKR 758
$3.09MX$53.8
-22.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45LKR 1,098
$4.46MX$77.6
-22.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kataragama
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.69LKR 538
$1.43MX$24.80
18.18%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52LKR 165
$1.88MX$32.79
-72.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.83LKR 264
$1.63MX$28.34
-49.08%
Eggs
$2.15LKR 684
$2.64MX$45.99
-18.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.04LKR 4,473
$8.21MX$143
71.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.55LKR 1,451
$8.29MX$144
-45.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.06LKR 2,569
$11.10MX$193
-27.39%
Apples(1kg)
$7.64LKR 2,433
$2.65MX$46.14
188.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06LKR 339
$1.50MX$26.11
-29.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.74LKR 1,830
$1.99MX$34.59
188.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.21LKR 387
$2.08MX$36.13
-41.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11LKR 353
$1.79MX$31.11
-37.99%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36LKR 433
$2.18MX$37.87
-37.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19LKR 379
$1.08MX$18.73
10.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56LKR 178
$1.04MX$18.04
-46.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.24LKR 3,263
$3.97MX$69.1
157.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.61LKR 4,019
$10.20MX$178
23.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06LKR 657
$1.73MX$30.04
19.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84LKR 906
$2.50MX$43.46
13.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Kataragama
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.52MX$9.02
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.97MX$469
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.42LKR 133
$3.14MX$54.7
-86.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33LKR 105
$2.40MX$41.80
-86.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.57LKR 181
$3.09MX$53.7
-81.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21LKR 387
$1.27MX$22.16
-4.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8KLKR 8.5M
$30.9KMX$537.3K
-13.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8KLKR 11.1M
$23.3KMX$405.7K
49.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kataragama
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$61.0LKR 19.4K
$82.0MX$1,427
-25.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.44LKR 1,413
$22.45MX$391
-80.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.86LKR 4,733
$29.66MX$516
-49.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kataragama
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$51.9MX$903
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.67MX$325
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.31LKR 1,056
$4.97MX$86.5
-33.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kataragama
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$36.74LKR 11.7K
$198MX$3,442
-81.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$444LKR 141.6K
$5,273MX$91.7K
-91.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kataragama
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.64LKR 8,805
$36.34MX$632
-23.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.74LKR 6,289
$40.05MX$697
-50.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.6LKR 21.8K
$79.9MX$1,390
-14.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.91LKR 12.4K
$88.9MX$1,547
-56.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kataragama
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$963MX$16.8K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$465MX$8,086
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,596MX$27.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,209MX$21.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,942MX$68.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,448MX$112.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kataragama
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 Kataragama: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Kataragama versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $255 in Kataragama vs $251 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Kataragama vs Playa del Carmen: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Kataragama or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen costs about 149% more than Kataragama, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kataragama vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $776 per month in Kataragama and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Kataragama compared to Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $518 in Kataragama and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Kataragama and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $36.74 per month in Kataragama and $198 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Kataragama or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kataragama, where all-in costs run around $518, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Kataragama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kataragama or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kataragama costs $518 versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Kataragama or Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Kataragama. 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.
Kataragama vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado