🙂A single person spends $740 per month in Weligama vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $926 per month in Weligama vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,111 per month in Weligama vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Weligama is about 42% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Weligama and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Weligama45% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Weligama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.01LKR 1,279
$11.94MX$209
-66.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.42LKR 4,279
$42.75MX$748
-68.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.92LKR 1,886
$10.59MX$185
-44.10%
Cappuccino
$2.62LKR 835
$3.62MX$63.4
-27.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68LKR 216
$1.47MX$25.69
-53.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40LKR 128
$0.94MX$16.51
-57.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35LKR 750
$3.09MX$54.1
-23.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42LKR 1,091
$4.46MX$78.0
-23.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Weligama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71LKR 545
$1.43MX$24.94
19.58%
White Bread(500g)
$0.34LKR 108
$1.88MX$32.97
-81.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.88LKR 280
$1.63MX$28.50
-46.01%
Eggs
$2.22LKR 709
$2.64MX$46.26
-15.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.33LKR 4,570
$8.21MX$144
74.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.79LKR 1,527
$8.29MX$145
-42.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.18LKR 2,608
$11.10MX$194
-26.31%
Apples(1kg)
$7.54LKR 2,404
$2.65MX$46.40
184.53%
Banana(1kg)
$0.76LKR 242
$1.50MX$26.26
-49.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.70LKR 1,818
$1.99MX$34.79
186.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.26LKR 403
$2.08MX$36.33
-39.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11LKR 353
$1.79MX$31.29
-37.99%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49LKR 155
$2.18MX$38.09
-77.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20LKR 383
$1.08MX$18.84
11.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59LKR 190
$1.04MX$18.15
-43.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.94LKR 3,169
$3.97MX$69.5
150.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.34LKR 3,936
$10.20MX$179
20.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03LKR 648
$1.73MX$30.22
17.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88LKR 917
$2.50MX$43.71
15.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Weligama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.52MX$9.07
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.97MX$472
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.41LKR 132
$3.14MX$55.0
-86.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35LKR 113
$2.40MX$42.04
-85.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.57LKR 181
$3.09MX$54.0
-81.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21LKR 387
$1.27MX$22.28
-4.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2KLKR 8.7M
$30.9KMX$540.4K
-11.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.2KLKR 11.2M
$23.3KMX$408.0K
50.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Weligama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$59.8LKR 19.1K
$82.0MX$1,435
-27.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.43LKR 1,092
$22.45MX$393
-84.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.08LKR 4,810
$29.66MX$519
-49.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Weligama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$51.9MX$908
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.67MX$327
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.31LKR 1,054
$4.97MX$87.0
-33.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Weligama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$37.44LKR 11.9K
$198MX$3,462
-81.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$439LKR 140.0K
$5,273MX$92.3K
-91.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Weligama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.42LKR 8,745
$36.34MX$636
-24.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.28LKR 6,148
$40.05MX$701
-51.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.2LKR 22.4K
$79.9MX$1,398
-12.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.59LKR 12.3K
$88.9MX$1,555
-56.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Weligama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$963MX$16.9K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$220LKR 70.0K
$465MX$8,133
-52.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,596MX$27.9K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,209MX$21.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,942MX$69.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,448MX$112.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Weligama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$720MX$12.6K
-
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Weligama versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $253 in Weligama vs $251 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
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 74%, 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 $1,111 per month in Weligama and $1,930 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $740 in Weligama and $1,287 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 $37.44 per month in Weligama and $198 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 Weligama or Playa del Carmen?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Weligama, where all-in costs run around $740, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. 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.