😐A single person spends $3,115 per month in Frauenfeld vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,042 per month in Frauenfeld vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $6,969 per month in Frauenfeld vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Frauenfeld costs about 148% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Frauenfeld sits 133% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Frauenfeld
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.23CHF 22.02
$11.99MX$210
127.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$141CHF 114
$41.78MX$733
237.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.16CHF 13.07
$10.75MX$189
50.33%
Cappuccino
$6.17CHF 4.99
$3.50MX$61.3
76.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.00CHF 4.04
$1.45MX$25.41
244.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36CHF 3.52
$0.88MX$15.52
395.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.24CHF 5.04
$2.95MX$51.7
111.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.63CHF 4.55
$4.51MX$79.1
24.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Frauenfeld
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93CHF 1.56
$1.43MX$25.12
34.97%
White Bread(500g)
$3.78CHF 3.06
$1.84MX$32.23
105.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.15CHF 2.55
$1.57MX$27.51
100.64%
Eggs
$7.69CHF 6.22
$2.51MX$44.06
206.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$27.44CHF 22.19
$8.28MX$145
231.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$29.48CHF 23.84
$8.43MX$148
249.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$51.7CHF 41.79
$10.68MX$187
383.99%
Apples(1kg)
$3.47CHF 2.80
$2.61MX$45.76
32.95%
Banana(1kg)
$2.30CHF 1.86
$1.44MX$25.22
59.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.49CHF 2.01
$1.96MX$34.41
27.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.39CHF 1.93
$2.09MX$36.74
14.35%
Potato(1kg)
$2.50CHF 2.02
$1.85MX$32.47
35.14%
Onion(1kg)
$2.50CHF 2.02
$2.17MX$38.02
15.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.82CHF 1.47
$1.03MX$18.09
76.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21CHF 0.98
$1.07MX$18.84
13.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.22CHF 9.07
$4.10MX$72.0
173.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.45CHF 11.69
$10.17MX$178
42.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.49CHF 2.01
$1.68MX$29.38
48.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89CHF 1.53
$2.53MX$44.31
-25.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Frauenfeld
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.06CHF 3.28
$0.51MX$8.93
696.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$98.5CHF 79.7
$26.04MX$457
278.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.36CHF 6.76
$3.23MX$56.7
158.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.28CHF 3.46
$2.41MX$42.19
77.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$87.7CHF 70.9
$3.23MX$56.6
2615.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.22CHF 1.79
$1.32MX$23.17
68.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.5KCHF 32.7K
$29.7KMX$520.9K
36.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.3KCHF 34.2K
$23.7KMX$415.0K
78.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Frauenfeld
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$249CHF 201
$82.0MX$1,439
203.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.01CHF 35.58
$22.95MX$403
91.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.6CHF 46.54
$30.11MX$528
91.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Frauenfeld
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$103CHF 83.4
$52.0MX$912
98.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.53MX$325
-
Cinema Ticket
$19.92CHF 16.10
$4.98MX$87.3
300.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Frauenfeld
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,851CHF 2,305
$197MX$3,463
1343.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$42.3KCHF 34.2K
$5,336MX$93.6K
693.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Frauenfeld
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$132CHF 107
$35.60MX$624
270.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.1CHF 45.33
$40.33MX$707
39.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$123CHF 99.1
$78.8MX$1,381
55.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139CHF 112
$88.9MX$1,560
56.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Frauenfeld
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,492CHF 1,207
$947MX$16.6K
57.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,182CHF 956
$474MX$8,314
149.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,695CHF 2,179
$1,644MX$28.8K
63.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,403CHF 1,943
$1,211MX$21.2K
98.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$15.9KCHF 12.8K
$4,056MX$71.1K
291.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$12.4KCHF 9,995
$6,470MX$113.5K
91.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Frauenfeld
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,158CHF 4,979
$654MX$11.5K
841.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.35
11.42
-79.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Frauenfeld: July 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,492 in Frauenfeld 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 842% higher in Frauenfeld, 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 $141 in Frauenfeld versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $618 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
Frauenfeld vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Frauenfeld?
Yes – Frauenfeld is pricier by about 148%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $4,673 per month in Frauenfeld and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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 are total monthly expenses in Frauenfeld and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,115 in Frauenfeld and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 278% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Frauenfeld or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Frauenfeld at $3,115. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Frauenfeld it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Frauenfeld or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Frauenfeld 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 Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Frauenfeld makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Frauenfeld vs other spots: cost of living compared