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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $515 per month in Ragama vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $835 per month in Ragama vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,154 per month in Ragama vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Ragama is about 61% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ragama and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Ragama 63% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 LKR 1,448

$11.96 MX$203

-63.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.20 LKR 8,610

$47.38 MX$804

-44.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.64 LKR 2,509

$11.75 MX$199

-34.98%

Cappuccino

$2.54 LKR 834

$4.12 MX$70.0

-38.35%

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

$0.69 LKR 226

$1.40 MX$23.74

-50.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 LKR 88.7

$0.91 MX$15.48

-70.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 LKR 740

$3.21 MX$54.4

-29.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 LKR 1,026

$7.07 MX$120

-55.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 LKR 468

$1.68 MX$28.44

-14.88%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 LKR 166

$2.15 MX$36.48

-76.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.69 LKR 226

$1.77 MX$30.10

-61.02%

Eggs

$1.66 LKR 546

$2.82 MX$47.76

-41.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.16 LKR 4,324

$9.20 MX$156

43.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.94 LKR 1,622

$9.23 MX$157

-46.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.23 LKR 2,376

$12.64 MX$214

-42.80%

Apples (1kg)

$6.71 LKR 2,206

$2.95 MX$50.1

127.46%

Banana (1kg)

$0.89 LKR 294

$1.58 MX$26.79

-43.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 LKR 1,420

$2.22 MX$37.70

94.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 LKR 408

$2.36 MX$40.09

-47.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 LKR 343

$1.99 MX$33.81

-47.74%

Onion (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 262

$1.98 MX$33.58

-59.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 LKR 290

$1.24 MX$21.04

-29.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 LKR 151

$1.21 MX$20.55

-61.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.46 LKR 3,435

$4.60 MX$78.1

127.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.56 LKR 4,457

$10.52 MX$178

28.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 LKR 656

$1.69 MX$28.70

18.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 LKR 909

$2.77 MX$47.06

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.22

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 128

$5.24 MX$88.8

-92.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.39 LKR 127

$3.65 MX$61.9

-89.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 LKR 303

$5.78 MX$98.1

-84.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 LKR 443

$1.54 MX$26.09

-12.34%

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

$30.0K LKR 9.8M

$22.8K MX$386.8K

31.42%

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

$41.7K LKR 13.7M

$25.8K MX$437.9K

61.38%

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

$54.4 LKR 17.9K

$90.7 MX$1,538

-40.05%

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

$4.16 LKR 1,366

$25.19 MX$427

-83.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.62 LKR 6,776

$31.75 MX$539

-35.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,167

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$4.49 LKR 1,477

$4.86 MX$82.5

-7.61%

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

$38.72 LKR 12.7K

$226 MX$3,828

-82.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,242 LKR 408.2K

$4,194 MX$71.1K

-70.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.02 LKR 6,577

$47.38 MX$804

-57.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.51 LKR 5,424

$43.45 MX$737

-62.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.6 LKR 26.1K

$80.2 MX$1,361

-0.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.71 LKR 13.7K

$91.4 MX$1,550

-54.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 MX$18.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 MX$6,933

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,972 MX$33.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 MX$21.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 MX$13.1K

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 Ragama: September 7, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Ragama versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $233 vs $278 – making Ragama 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 153%, 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 $773 per month in Ragama and $1,958 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $515 in Ragama and $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $38.72 per month in Ragama and $226 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ragama, where all-in costs run around $515, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Ragama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

If budget matters most, go with Ragama. 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.