😐A single person spends $3,186 per month in Frauenfeld vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,101 per month in Frauenfeld vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $7,016 per month in Frauenfeld vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Frauenfeld costs about 146% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Frauenfeld sits 132% 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
$31.45CHF 25.57
$11.71MX$199
168.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$126CHF 102
$46.59MX$791
169.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$20.10CHF 16.34
$11.65MX$198
72.53%
Cappuccino
$6.11CHF 4.97
$4.09MX$69.5
49.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.55CHF 4.51
$1.37MX$23.34
305.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.05CHF 4.10
$0.83MX$14.16
508.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.73CHF 7.10
$3.35MX$56.9
160.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.89CHF 5.60
$6.91MX$117
-0.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Frauenfeld
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.31CHF 1.88
$1.73MX$29.33
33.53%
White Bread(500g)
$4.05CHF 3.29
$2.26MX$38.39
79.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.42CHF 3.59
$1.77MX$30.05
149.72%
Eggs
$7.85CHF 6.38
$2.73MX$46.41
187.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$27.83CHF 22.62
$9.18MX$156
203.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$29.91CHF 24.31
$8.92MX$151
235.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$43.12CHF 35.06
$12.60MX$214
242.22%
Apples(1kg)
$3.79CHF 3.08
$3.02MX$51.3
25.50%
Banana(1kg)
$2.28CHF 1.85
$1.57MX$26.68
45.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.91CHF 2.36
$2.13MX$36.10
36.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.49CHF 4.46
$2.26MX$38.46
142.92%
Potato(1kg)
$2.44CHF 1.98
$2.00MX$34.04
22.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.50CHF 2.04
$2.06MX$35.06
21.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.40CHF 1.95
$1.18MX$20.04
103.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24CHF 1.00
$1.20MX$20.45
3.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.34CHF 9.22
$4.63MX$78.7
144.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.17CHF 12.34
$10.69MX$182
41.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94CHF 2.39
$1.62MX$27.50
81.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97CHF 3.23
$2.88MX$48.93
37.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Frauenfeld
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.51CHF 3.66
$0.57MX$9.74
691.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$100CHF 81.5
$29.83MX$507
235.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.56CHF 4.52
$5.45MX$92.5
2.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.51CHF 2.85
$3.70MX$62.9
-5.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.7CHF 50.2
$5.98MX$102
931.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31CHF 1.88
$1.55MX$26.38
49.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.6KCHF 35.5K
$22.3KMX$379.2K
95.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.8KCHF 32.3K
$25.9KMX$440.7K
53.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Frauenfeld
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$232CHF 189
$89.1MX$1,514
160.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.80CHF 33.17
$25.04MX$425
62.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8CHF 51.9
$31.50MX$535
102.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Frauenfeld
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$102CHF 83.0
$67.8MX$1,151
50.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$47.27CHF 38.43
$28.92MX$491
63.45%
Cinema Ticket
$24.20CHF 19.67
$5.05MX$85.8
379.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Frauenfeld
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,861CHF 1,513
$225MX$3,820
727.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$33.7KCHF 27.4K
$4,222MX$71.7K
698.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Frauenfeld
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$168CHF 137
$47.44MX$806
255.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.1CHF 46.41
$44.98MX$764
26.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$195CHF 159
$82.0MX$1,392
137.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142CHF 115
$92.1MX$1,564
53.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Frauenfeld
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,525CHF 1,240
$1,069MX$18.2K
42.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233CHF 1,003
$405MX$6,884
204.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,690CHF 2,187
$1,935MX$32.9K
38.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,474CHF 2,011
$1,301MX$22.1K
90.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$16.7KCHF 13.6K
$3,995MX$67.9K
318.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$12.3KCHF 9,967
$6,626MX$112.5K
85.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Frauenfeld
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,365CHF 5,175
$749MX$12.7K
750.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.35
11.45
-79.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Frauenfeld: August 29, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,525 in Frauenfeld 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 750% 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 $126 in Frauenfeld versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $637 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
Frauenfeld vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Frauenfeld?
Yes – Frauenfeld is pricier by about 146%, 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 $4,779 per month in Frauenfeld and $1,940 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 $3,186 in Frauenfeld and $1,293 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 236% 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 $1,293, than in Frauenfeld at $3,186. 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