Cost of Living Comparison Between Chur and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Chur and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,293 per month in Chur vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,265 per month in Chur vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,238 per month in Chur vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Chur costs about 155% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chur sits 140% 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
$29.12 CHF 23.67
$11.71 MX$199
148.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$109 CHF 88.9
$46.59 MX$791
134.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$17.00 CHF 13.82
$11.65 MX$198
45.92%
Cappuccino
$5.75 CHF 4.68
$4.09 MX$69.5
40.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.52 CHF 4.49
$1.37 MX$23.34
302.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.10 CHF 4.14
$0.83 MX$14.16
514.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.76 CHF 7.13
$3.35 MX$56.9
161.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.56 CHF 6.96
$6.91 MX$117
23.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.20 CHF 1.79
$1.73 MX$29.33
27.17%
White Bread (500g)
$3.53 CHF 2.87
$2.26 MX$38.39
56.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.42 CHF 3.59
$1.77 MX$30.05
149.72%
Eggs
$7.89 CHF 6.41
$2.73 MX$46.41
189.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$26.88 CHF 21.85
$9.18 MX$156
192.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$26.90 CHF 21.87
$8.92 MX$151
201.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$40.84 CHF 33.20
$12.60 MX$214
224.13%
Apples (1kg)
$3.53 CHF 2.87
$3.02 MX$51.3
16.89%
Banana (1kg)
$2.18 CHF 1.77
$1.57 MX$26.68
38.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.75 CHF 2.24
$2.13 MX$36.10
29.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.81 CHF 3.91
$2.26 MX$38.46
112.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.89 CHF 1.54
$2.00 MX$34.04
-5.50%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 CHF 1.81
$2.06 MX$35.06
8.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.37 CHF 1.93
$1.18 MX$20.04
100.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 CHF 1.17
$1.20 MX$20.45
20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.96 CHF 8.91
$4.63 MX$78.7
136.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.09 CHF 10.64
$10.69 MX$182
22.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 CHF 1.81
$1.62 MX$27.50
37.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 CHF 2.30
$2.88 MX$48.93
-1.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Chur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.49 CHF 4.46
$0.57 MX$9.74
863.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$189 CHF 153
$29.83 MX$507
532.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.73 CHF 6.28
$5.45 MX$92.5
41.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$5.07 CHF 4.12
$3.70 MX$62.9
37.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$90.3 CHF 73.4
$5.98 MX$102
1410.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.24 CHF 1.82
$1.55 MX$26.38
44.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.8K CHF 34.0K
$22.3K MX$379.2K
87.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.1K CHF 31.0K
$25.9K MX$440.7K
46.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$236 CHF 192
$89.1 MX$1,514
164.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.40 CHF 27.15
$25.04 MX$425
33.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.9 CHF 44.64
$31.50 MX$535
74.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$80.0 CHF 65.1
$67.8 MX$1,151
18.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.33 CHF 27.91
$28.92 MX$491
18.71%
Cinema Ticket
$22.40 CHF 18.21
$5.05 MX$85.8
343.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,430 CHF 1,976
$225 MX$3,820
980.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$44.6K CHF 36.2K
$4,222 MX$71.7K
955.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.4 CHF 76.7
$47.44 MX$806
98.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.48 CHF 40.23
$44.98 MX$764
10.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$124 CHF 101
$82.0 MX$1,392
51.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$176 CHF 143
$92.1 MX$1,564
90.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,704 CHF 1,385
$1,069 MX$18.2K
59.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,393 CHF 1,133
$405 MX$6,884
243.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,019 CHF 2,455
$1,935 MX$32.9K
56.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,652 CHF 2,156
$1,301 MX$22.1K
103.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,561 CHF 6,147
$3,995 MX$67.9K
89.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,593 CHF 4,547
$6,626 MX$112.5K
-15.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$8,691 CHF 7,066
$749 MX$12.7K
1060.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
1.72
11.45
-84.98%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chur: August 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,704 in Chur versus $1,069 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 1061% 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 $109 in Chur versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $590 vs $277 – 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: $3,293 in Chur, $1,293 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 155% 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 $4,939 per month in Chur and $1,940 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 $2,430 per month in Chur and $225 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 113% 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 $1,293, than in Chur at $3,293. 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 $1,293 in Playa del Carmen to $3,293 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.

Chur vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities