Cost of Living Comparison Between Maharagama and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Maharagama and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $132 per month in Maharagama vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $246 per month in Maharagama vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $360 per month in Maharagama vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Maharagama is about 90% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Maharagama and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Maharagama 90% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.20 LKR 1,719

$11.60 MX$200

-55.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.09 LKR 6,642

$47.11 MX$811

-57.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.02 LKR 2,321

$11.88 MX$205

-40.91%

Cappuccino

$2.13 LKR 705

$3.98 MX$68.5

-46.48%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 LKR 201

$1.43 MX$24.57

-57.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 LKR 94.3

$0.82 MX$14.20

-64.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$54.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 LKR 297

$1.68 MX$28.85

-46.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.25 LKR 82.7

$2.20 MX$37.83

-88.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.51 LKR 168

$1.71 MX$29.41

-70.18%

Eggs

$1.44 LKR 476

$2.74 MX$47.20

-47.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MX$165

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 MX$155

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.81 MX$221

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 MX$49.74

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.78

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$36.98

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.91

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 MX$34.10

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.26

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 MX$21.25

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.60

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 MX$78.3

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.88

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.60

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.34

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$496

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 LKR 148

$5.39 MX$92.8

-91.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 LKR 159

$3.73 MX$64.2

-87.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.45

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.5K MX$388.3K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.1K MX$448.7K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$91.4 MX$1,573

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.69 LKR 1,549

$25.20 MX$434

-81.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.87 LKR 4,587

$31.24 MX$538

-55.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,157

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$501

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$83.7

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$224 MX$3,851

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 MX$811

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 MX$763

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,379

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 MX$1,596

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 MX$18.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MX$6,719

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 LKR 66.1K

$2,149 MX$37.0K

-90.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 MX$21.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$68.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$248 LKR 81.9K

$758 MX$13.1K

-67.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Maharagama: September 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 206% 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 $20.00 in Maharagama versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $19.00 vs $276 – making Maharagama 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

Maharagama vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 861%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $198 per month in Maharagama and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 1332% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Maharagama and $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Maharagama, where all-in costs run around $132, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Maharagama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Maharagama – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Maharagama. 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.