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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $734 per month in Weligama vs $1,294 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $919 per month in Weligama vs $2,189 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,104 per month in Weligama vs $3,084 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Weligama is about 43% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Weligama and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Weligama 45% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.11 LKR 1,370

$11.73 MX$202

-64.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.47 LKR 4,487

$41.78 MX$719

-67.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.01 LKR 2,002

$10.41 MX$179

-42.27%

Cappuccino

$2.62 LKR 872

$3.61 MX$62.1

-27.42%

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

$0.69 LKR 231

$1.46 MX$25.06

-52.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 LKR 124

$0.97 MX$16.70

-61.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 LKR 790

$2.92 MX$50.3

-18.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.28 LKR 1,091

$4.62 MX$79.5

-29.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 LKR 552

$1.43 MX$24.59

16.08%

White Bread (500g)

$0.32 LKR 106

$1.90 MX$32.70

-83.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 276

$1.57 MX$26.95

-47.13%

Eggs

$2.16 LKR 718

$2.64 MX$45.34

-18.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.21 LKR 4,732

$8.44 MX$145

68.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.79 LKR 1,596

$8.58 MX$148

-44.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.11 LKR 2,699

$11.00 MX$189

-26.27%

Apples (1kg)

$7.69 LKR 2,561

$2.70 MX$46.51

184.81%

Banana (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 266

$1.51 MX$25.92

-47.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.78 LKR 1,923

$1.91 MX$32.93

202.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 416

$2.17 MX$37.37

-42.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 385

$1.87 MX$32.25

-37.97%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 LKR 160

$2.23 MX$38.43

-78.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 LKR 386

$1.08 MX$18.60

7.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 189

$1.07 MX$18.47

-46.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.98 LKR 3,325

$4.16 MX$71.6

139.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.01 LKR 4,333

$10.29 MX$177

26.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 LKR 697

$1.68 MX$28.95

24.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 LKR 941

$2.53 MX$43.59

11.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 MX$9.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.29 MX$452

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 137

$3.20 MX$55.0

-87.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 LKR 108

$2.46 MX$42.37

-86.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 LKR 200

$3.20 MX$55.0

-81.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 420

$1.32 MX$22.72

-4.55%

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

$27.3K LKR 9.1M

$30.2K MX$518.8K

-9.56%

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

$35.0K LKR 11.6M

$23.4K MX$402.5K

49.41%

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

$59.9 LKR 19.9K

$81.4 MX$1,400

-26.38%

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

$3.41 LKR 1,135

$22.41 MX$386

-84.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.18 LKR 5,054

$29.97 MX$516

-49.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$887

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$316

Cinema Ticket

$3.36 LKR 1,120

$5.16 MX$88.9

-34.88%

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

$36.70 LKR 12.2K

$202 MX$3,471

-81.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$446 LKR 148.6K

$5,311 MX$91.4K

-91.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.03 LKR 9,336

$35.61 MX$613

-21.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.02 LKR 6,335

$40.37 MX$695

-52.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.7 LKR 23.2K

$78.6 MX$1,353

-11.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.38 LKR 13.1K

$86.9 MX$1,495

-54.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$950 MX$16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$215 LKR 71.7K

$478 MX$8,227

-55.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 MX$27.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 MX$21.0K

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 %)

16.45

11.42

44.05%

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

Last update for Weligama: June 16, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Weligama versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $254 – making Weligama 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 76%, 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 $1,101 per month in Weligama and $1,941 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 $734 in Weligama and $1,294 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $36.70 per month in Weligama and $202 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 Weligama, where all-in costs run around $734, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,294. In Weligama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Weligama – 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 Weligama. 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.