😐A single person spends $3,137 per month in Chur vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,098 per month in Chur vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $7,060 per month in Chur vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Chur costs about 150% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Chur sits 135% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.31CHF 25.31
$11.99MX$210
161.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.5CHF 80.4
$41.78MX$733
138.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.09CHF 13.01
$10.75MX$189
49.67%
Cappuccino
$5.94CHF 4.81
$3.50MX$61.3
69.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56CHF 3.68
$1.45MX$25.41
214.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.23CHF 3.42
$0.88MX$15.52
380.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.21CHF 5.83
$2.95MX$51.7
144.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.55CHF 6.11
$4.51MX$79.1
67.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.30CHF 1.86
$1.43MX$25.12
60.84%
White Bread(500g)
$3.67CHF 2.97
$1.84MX$32.23
99.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.19CHF 3.38
$1.57MX$27.51
166.88%
Eggs
$7.83CHF 6.33
$2.51MX$44.06
211.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$29.05CHF 23.48
$8.28MX$145
250.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$35.87CHF 29.00
$8.43MX$148
325.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$36.50CHF 29.51
$10.68MX$187
241.76%
Apples(1kg)
$3.73CHF 3.02
$2.61MX$45.76
42.91%
Banana(1kg)
$2.29CHF 1.86
$1.44MX$25.22
59.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.55CHF 2.06
$1.96MX$34.41
30.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.51CHF 4.46
$2.09MX$36.74
163.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.81CHF 1.46
$1.85MX$32.47
-2.16%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27CHF 1.84
$2.17MX$38.02
4.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.27CHF 1.83
$1.03MX$18.09
120.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27CHF 1.03
$1.07MX$18.84
18.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.67CHF 8.63
$4.10MX$72.0
160.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.97CHF 10.49
$10.17MX$178
27.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39CHF 1.93
$1.68MX$29.38
42.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33CHF 2.69
$2.53MX$44.31
31.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Chur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$5.51CHF 4.45
$0.51MX$8.93
980.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$188CHF 152
$26.04MX$457
623.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.93CHF 6.41
$3.23MX$56.7
145.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.25CHF 3.43
$2.41MX$42.19
76.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.8CHF 50.8
$3.23MX$56.6
1844.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.19CHF 1.77
$1.32MX$23.17
65.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1KCHF 30.8K
$29.7KMX$520.9K
28.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.5KCHF 30.3K
$23.7KMX$415.0K
58.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$250CHF 202
$82.0MX$1,439
204.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.93CHF 20.16
$22.95MX$403
8.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.89CHF 39.53
$30.11MX$528
62.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$86.5CHF 69.9
$52.0MX$912
66.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.17CHF 30.05
$18.53MX$325
100.59%
Cinema Ticket
$22.49CHF 18.19
$4.98MX$87.3
351.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,500CHF 2,022
$197MX$3,463
1166.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$43.3KCHF 35.0K
$5,336MX$93.6K
710.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$138CHF 112
$35.60MX$624
287.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.49CHF 29.51
$40.33MX$707
-9.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$131CHF 106
$78.8MX$1,381
66.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158CHF 128
$88.9MX$1,560
77.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,489CHF 1,204
$947MX$16.6K
57.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,133CHF 916
$474MX$8,314
139.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,894CHF 2,340
$1,644MX$28.8K
76.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,498CHF 2,019
$1,211MX$21.2K
106.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,281CHF 5,886
$4,056MX$71.1K
79.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,574CHF 4,507
$6,470MX$113.5K
-13.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,981CHF 5,644
$654MX$11.5K
967.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2
11.42
-82.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chur: July 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,489 in Chur versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 968% higher in Chur, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chur versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $633 vs $249 – making Playa del Carmen 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
Chur vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Chur and in Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,137 in Chur, $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 150% apart. Chur costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Chur compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,706 per month in Chur and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Chur and Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Chur and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $2,500 per month in Chur and $197 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 154% more in Chur, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Chur at $3,137. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Chur and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,256 in Playa del Carmen to $3,137 in Chur. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Chur or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Chur and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.