🙂A single person spends $515 per month in Weligama vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $830 per month in Weligama vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,144 per month in Weligama vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Weligama is about 59% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Weligama and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Weligama62% lower, Playa del Carmen7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Weligama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.29LKR 1,420
$11.60MX$200
-63.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.43LKR 8,408
$47.11MX$811
-46.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.56LKR 2,501
$11.88MX$205
-36.36%
Cappuccino
$2.52LKR 833
$3.98MX$68.5
-36.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68LKR 225
$1.43MX$24.57
-52.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27LKR 89.5
$0.82MX$14.20
-67.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.29LKR 756
$3.19MX$54.9
-28.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06LKR 1,013
$6.79MX$117
-54.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Weligama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62LKR 537
$1.68MX$28.85
-3.57%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57LKR 188
$2.20MX$37.83
-74.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.81LKR 267
$1.71MX$29.41
-52.63%
Eggs
$1.65LKR 545
$2.74MX$47.20
-39.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.04LKR 4,313
$9.58MX$165
36.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.12LKR 1,694
$9.01MX$155
-43.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.07LKR 2,337
$12.81MX$221
-44.81%
Apples(1kg)
$6.81LKR 2,251
$2.89MX$49.74
135.64%
Banana(1kg)
$0.88LKR 292
$1.50MX$25.78
-41.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.29LKR 1,417
$2.15MX$36.98
99.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.23LKR 406
$2.26MX$38.91
-45.58%
Potato(1kg)
$0.99LKR 327
$1.98MX$34.10
-50.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.80LKR 264
$1.99MX$34.26
-59.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88LKR 290
$1.23MX$21.25
-28.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49LKR 162
$1.20MX$20.60
-59.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.20LKR 3,374
$4.55MX$78.3
124.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.53LKR 4,473
$10.37MX$179
30.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97LKR 652
$1.62MX$27.88
21.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91LKR 961
$2.88MX$49.60
1.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Weligama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.60MX$10.34
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.80MX$496
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.42LKR 139
$5.39MX$92.8
-92.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35LKR 115
$3.73MX$64.2
-90.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.92LKR 305
$5.77MX$99.3
-84.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35LKR 446
$1.54MX$26.45
-12.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.2KLKR 12.3M
$22.5KMX$388.3K
64.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.8KLKR 13.5M
$26.1KMX$448.7K
56.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Weligama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$55.6LKR 18.4K
$91.4MX$1,573
-39.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.10LKR 1,356
$25.20MX$434
-83.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.14LKR 6,990
$31.24MX$538
-32.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Weligama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$67.2MX$1,157
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11MX$501
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.49LKR 1,484
$4.86MX$83.7
-7.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Weligama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$38.14LKR 12.6K
$224MX$3,851
-82.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,218LKR 402.6K
$4,229MX$72.8K
-71.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Weligama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.94LKR 6,592
$47.10MX$811
-57.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.77LKR 5,544
$44.29MX$763
-62.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.7LKR 26.0K
$80.1MX$1,379
-1.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.64LKR 13.8K
$92.7MX$1,596
-55.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Weligama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,063MX$18.3K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$390MX$6,719
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,149MX$37.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,272MX$21.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,001MX$68.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,502MX$112.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Weligama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$758MX$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 Weligama: September 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Weligama versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $276 – 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
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Weligama?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 146%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $773 per month in Weligama and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Weligama and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $515 in Weligama and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $38.14 per month in Weligama and $224 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Weligama or in Playa del Carmen?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Weligama, where all-in costs run around $515, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Weligama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Weligama or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Weligama or Playa del Carmen?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.