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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,294 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $472 in Maharagama, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,189 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $797 in Maharagama, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,084 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,122 in Maharagama, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 174% more than Maharagama, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Maharagama are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Maharagama 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$202

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$719

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.41 MX$179

Cappuccino

$3.61 MX$62.1

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

$1.46 MX$25.06

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.70

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 MX$50.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.62 MX$79.5

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.59

$1.85 LKR 616

-22.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 MX$32.70

$0.52 LKR 174

265.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$26.95

$0.76 LKR 254

106.58%

Eggs

$2.64 MX$45.34

$2.02 LKR 674

30.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.44 MX$145

$15.86 LKR 5,282

-46.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.58 MX$148

$5.81 LKR 1,936

47.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.00 MX$189

$11.04 LKR 3,677

-0.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.70 MX$46.51

$11.73 LKR 3,906

-76.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$25.92

$1.23 LKR 410

22.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 MX$32.93

$10.08 LKR 3,357

-81.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.37

$1.89 LKR 628

14.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.25

$1.14 LKR 381

64.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.43

$1.15 LKR 382

93.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.60

$1.55 LKR 518

-30.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.47

$0.58 LKR 193

84.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 MX$71.6

$9.87 LKR 3,288

-57.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.29 MX$177

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$28.95

$1.97 LKR 657

-14.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$43.59

$3.21 LKR 1,068

-21.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 MX$9.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.29 MX$452

$3.44 LKR 1,145

664.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 MX$55.0

$0.34 LKR 114

841.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.46 MX$42.37

$0.31 LKR 104

693.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 MX$55.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$22.72

$1.38 LKR 460

-4.35%

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

$30.2K MX$518.8K

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

$23.4K MX$402.5K

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

$81.4 MX$1,400

$53.1 LKR 17.7K

53.20%

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

$22.41 MX$386

$3.28 LKR 1,091

583.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.97 MX$516

$12.43 LKR 4,140

141.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$887

$13.16 LKR 4,383

291.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$316

Cinema Ticket

$5.16 MX$88.9

$4.93 LKR 1,643

4.67%

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

$202 MX$3,471

$66.6 LKR 22.2K

202.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,311 MX$91.4K

$494 LKR 164.4K

975.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.61 MX$613

$25.32 LKR 8,432

40.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.37 MX$695

$13.38 LKR 4,455

201.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.6 MX$1,353

$55.9 LKR 18.6K

40.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.9 MX$1,495

$59.8 LKR 19.9K

45.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$950 MX$16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$478 MX$8,227

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 MX$27.9K

$164 LKR 54.7K

886.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 MX$21.0K

$119 LKR 39.5K

931.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,009 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,473 MX$111.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$673 MX$11.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

-32.82%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026

Last update for Maharagama: June 16, 2026

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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 174%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,941 per month in Playa del Carmen and $708 in Maharagama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Public transport costs about 664% less in Maharagama. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Interestingly, groceries are about 17% cheaper in Playa del Carmen – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Maharagama, where all-in costs run around $472, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,294. 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.