😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,311 in Bregenz versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,423 in Bregenz versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,535 in Bregenz versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Bregenz is roughly 83% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bregenz is 74% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bregenz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.47€16.00
$11.72MX$203
57.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.7€70.8
$41.89MX$725
95.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.03
$10.51MX$182
10.18%
Cappuccino
$4.13€3.58
$3.59MX$62.0
15.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66€3.17
$1.51MX$26.10
142.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22€2.79
$0.92MX$15.83
250.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.06€4.38
$2.96MX$51.2
70.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.71€4.08
$4.41MX$76.3
6.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bregenz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79€1.55
$1.40MX$24.16
27.86%
White Bread(500g)
$2.96€2.57
$1.88MX$32.60
57.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.15€1.86
$1.56MX$26.97
37.82%
Eggs
$4.34€3.76
$2.61MX$45.14
66.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.26€14.08
$8.32MX$144
95.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.69€11.86
$8.35MX$145
63.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.94€18.13
$10.86MX$188
92.82%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03€2.63
$2.71MX$46.93
11.81%
Banana(1kg)
$2.06€1.78
$1.51MX$26.04
36.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.37€2.06
$1.87MX$32.41
26.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.56€3.08
$2.19MX$37.89
62.56%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02€1.75
$1.86MX$32.14
8.60%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.57
$2.23MX$38.59
-18.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.79€1.55
$1.07MX$18.48
67.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70€0.60
$1.09MX$18.79
-35.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.99€6.05
$4.19MX$72.4
66.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.75€6.72
$10.43MX$180
-25.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32€1.15
$1.66MX$28.68
-20.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.37
$2.61MX$45.19
-39.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Bregenz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.04€2.63
$0.54MX$9.37
462.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$47.09€40.78
$26.16MX$453
80.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.89€8.57
$3.08MX$53.3
221.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.84
$2.40MX$41.61
-11.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.38€29.78
$3.13MX$54.1
998.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.72€1.49
$1.31MX$22.69
31.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K€24.9K
$29.8KMX$515.7K
-3.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K€31.0K
$23.3KMX$403.5K
53.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bregenz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$417€361
$81.3MX$1,406
412.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.58€19.55
$22.56MX$390
0.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.53€29.90
$30.05MX$520
14.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bregenz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.0€55.4
$52.9MX$915
20.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.13€22.63
$18.39MX$318
42.09%
Cinema Ticket
$14.43€12.49
$4.92MX$85.1
193.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bregenz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$892€772
$201MX$3,474
343.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,291€6,314
$5,175MX$89.5K
40.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bregenz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.51€39.41
$35.92MX$622
26.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.05€22.56
$40.13MX$694
-35.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.9€56.2
$79.7MX$1,379
-18.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139€121
$86.5MX$1,496
60.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bregenz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,054€913
$978MX$16.9K
7.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$871€754
$470MX$8,140
85.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,763€1,527
$1,651MX$28.6K
6.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,576€1,365
$1,203MX$20.8K
30.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,456€6,457
$3,953MX$68.4K
88.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,914€5,121
$6,607MX$114.3K
-10.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bregenz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,440€2,113
$677MX$11.7K
260.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.75
11.42
-67.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bregenz: July 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,054 in Bregenz and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bregenz pays 261% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $82.0 in Bregenz vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $359 vs $252 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
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
Bregenz vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bregenz and in Playa del Carmen?
Bregenz and Playa del Carmen differ by about 83% in total monthly costs ($2,311 vs $1,260 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Bregenz or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 261% higher in Bregenz, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Bregenz and in Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,054 in Bregenz versus $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $82.0 in Bregenz. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bregenz or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,311 per month in Bregenz versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – a 83% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,311 in Bregenz, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Bregenz. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Bregenz and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Bregenz or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Bregenz and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Bregenz or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 83% less than in Bregenz. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.