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 $519 per month in Ragama vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $861 per month in Ragama vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,203 per month in Ragama vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Ragama is about 59% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ragama and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Ragama 61% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.07 LKR 1,363

$11.72 MX$204

-65.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.91 LKR 8,346

$41.89 MX$731

-40.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.51 LKR 2,850

$10.51 MX$183

-19.03%

Cappuccino

$2.63 LKR 880

$3.59 MX$62.5

-26.74%

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

$0.73 LKR 245

$1.51 MX$26.31

-51.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 126

$0.92 MX$15.96

-58.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 LKR 777

$2.96 MX$51.6

-21.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 LKR 1,112

$4.41 MX$76.9

-24.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 LKR 528

$1.40 MX$24.35

12.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 189

$1.88 MX$32.87

-70.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.73 LKR 243

$1.56 MX$27.19

-53.21%

Eggs

$2.11 LKR 706

$2.61 MX$45.50

-19.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.22 LKR 4,765

$8.32 MX$145

70.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.54 LKR 1,523

$8.35 MX$146

-45.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.20 LKR 2,747

$10.86 MX$189

-24.49%

Apples (1kg)

$7.41 LKR 2,482

$2.71 MX$47.31

173.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 376

$1.51 MX$26.25

-25.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.81 LKR 1,948

$1.87 MX$32.67

210.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 LKR 416

$2.19 MX$38.19

-43.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 388

$1.86 MX$32.40

-37.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 LKR 416

$2.23 MX$38.90

-44.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 LKR 386

$1.07 MX$18.63

7.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 LKR 186

$1.09 MX$18.94

-49.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.07 LKR 3,373

$4.19 MX$73.0

140.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.44 LKR 4,167

$10.43 MX$182

19.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 LKR 705

$1.66 MX$28.91

26.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 LKR 999

$2.61 MX$45.56

14.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.45

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$456

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 129

$3.08 MX$53.7

-87.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 118

$2.40 MX$41.94

-85.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 LKR 191

$3.13 MX$54.5

-81.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 423

$1.31 MX$22.87

-3.82%

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

$26.3K LKR 8.8M

$29.8K MX$519.9K

-11.90%

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

$34.2K LKR 11.4M

$23.3K MX$406.8K

46.44%

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

$59.4 LKR 19.9K

$81.3 MX$1,418

-26.89%

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

$4.29 LKR 1,437

$22.56 MX$393

-80.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.96 LKR 5,013

$30.05 MX$524

-50.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$923

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$321

Cinema Ticket

$3.36 LKR 1,127

$4.92 MX$85.8

-31.71%

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

$37.47 LKR 12.6K

$201 MX$3,502

-81.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$445 LKR 149.1K

$5,175 MX$90.2K

-91.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.07 LKR 9,070

$35.92 MX$627

-24.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.30 LKR 6,467

$40.13 MX$700

-51.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.5 LKR 23.3K

$79.7 MX$1,390

-12.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.20 LKR 13.1K

$86.5 MX$1,508

-54.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$978 MX$17.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MX$8,206

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 MX$28.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 MX$21.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$115.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MX$11.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

11.42

44.05%

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

Last update for Ragama: July 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Ragama versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $255 in Ragama vs $252 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 143%, 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 $779 per month in Ragama and $1,890 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 $519 in Ragama and $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $37.47 per month in Ragama and $201 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 $519, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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.