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 $716 per month in Weligama vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $911 per month in Weligama vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,106 per month in Weligama vs $2,990 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 46% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.92 LKR 1,315

$11.72 MX$203

-66.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.33 LKR 4,474

$41.89 MX$725

-68.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.77 LKR 1,937

$10.51 MX$182

-45.10%

Cappuccino

$2.64 LKR 884

$3.59 MX$62.0

-26.46%

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

$0.74 LKR 248

$1.51 MX$26.10

-50.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 LKR 126

$0.92 MX$15.83

-59.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 LKR 796

$2.96 MX$51.2

-19.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 LKR 1,133

$4.41 MX$76.3

-23.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 LKR 564

$1.40 MX$24.16

20.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.32 LKR 106

$1.88 MX$32.60

-82.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.85 LKR 285

$1.56 MX$26.97

-45.51%

Eggs

$2.11 LKR 707

$2.61 MX$45.14

-19.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.92 LKR 4,671

$8.32 MX$144

67.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.54 LKR 1,523

$8.35 MX$145

-45.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.22 LKR 2,759

$10.86 MX$188

-24.31%

Apples (1kg)

$7.43 LKR 2,493

$2.71 MX$46.93

174.17%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 LKR 252

$1.51 MX$26.04

-50.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.73 LKR 1,922

$1.87 MX$32.41

206.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 421

$2.19 MX$37.89

-42.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 374

$1.86 MX$32.14

-40.32%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 LKR 162

$2.23 MX$38.59

-78.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 401

$1.07 MX$18.48

12.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 189

$1.09 MX$18.79

-48.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.25 LKR 3,439

$4.19 MX$72.4

144.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.54 LKR 4,206

$10.43 MX$180

20.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 LKR 670

$1.66 MX$28.68

20.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 996

$2.61 MX$45.19

13.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 131

$3.08 MX$53.3

-87.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 119

$2.40 MX$41.61

-85.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 193

$3.13 MX$54.1

-81.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 LKR 417

$1.31 MX$22.69

-5.34%

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

$26.6K LKR 8.9M

$29.8K MX$515.7K

-10.88%

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

$34.7K LKR 11.6M

$23.3K MX$403.5K

48.83%

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

$61.1 LKR 20.5K

$81.3 MX$1,406

-24.80%

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

$3.27 LKR 1,099

$22.56 MX$390

-85.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.27 LKR 5,123

$30.05 MX$520

-49.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$915

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$3.40 LKR 1,141

$4.92 MX$85.1

-30.89%

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

$37.18 LKR 12.5K

$201 MX$3,474

-81.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$436 LKR 146.3K

$5,175 MX$89.5K

-91.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.89 LKR 9,360

$35.92 MX$622

-22.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.45 LKR 6,527

$40.13 MX$694

-51.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.8 LKR 23.4K

$79.7 MX$1,379

-12.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.23 LKR 13.2K

$86.5 MX$1,496

-54.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$978 MX$16.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$220 LKR 74.0K

$470 MX$8,140

-53.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 MX$28.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 MX$20.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MX$11.7K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 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: $249 vs $252 – 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 $1,074 per month in Weligama 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 $716 in Weligama 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 $37.18 per month in Weligama 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 Weligama, where all-in costs run around $716, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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.