😐A single person spends $3,433 per month in Glattfelden vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,330 per month in Glattfelden vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $7,227 per month in Glattfelden vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Glattfelden costs about 172% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Glattfelden sits 158% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Glattfelden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.28CHF 25.25
$11.72MX$203
166.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$141CHF 114
$41.89MX$725
237.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.39CHF 14.84
$10.51MX$182
74.98%
Cappuccino
$6.02CHF 4.86
$3.59MX$62.0
67.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.44CHF 4.39
$1.51MX$26.10
260.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69CHF 3.79
$0.92MX$15.83
409.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.37CHF 6.75
$2.96MX$51.2
182.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.36CHF 5.94
$4.41MX$76.3
66.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Glattfelden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18CHF 1.76
$1.40MX$24.16
55.71%
White Bread(500g)
$3.46CHF 2.79
$1.88MX$32.60
84.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.23CHF 3.41
$1.56MX$26.97
171.15%
Eggs
$7.45CHF 6.01
$2.61MX$45.14
185.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$29.39CHF 23.71
$8.32MX$144
253.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$33.02CHF 26.65
$8.35MX$145
295.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$47.51CHF 38.34
$10.86MX$188
337.48%
Apples(1kg)
$3.78CHF 3.05
$2.71MX$46.93
39.48%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34CHF 1.88
$1.51MX$26.04
54.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.92CHF 2.36
$1.87MX$32.41
56.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.17CHF 4.98
$2.19MX$37.89
181.74%
Potato(1kg)
$2.42CHF 1.95
$1.86MX$32.14
30.11%
Onion(1kg)
$2.36CHF 1.91
$2.23MX$38.59
5.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.64CHF 2.13
$1.07MX$18.48
146.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.38CHF 1.12
$1.09MX$18.79
26.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.95CHF 8.84
$4.19MX$72.4
161.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.36CHF 9.17
$10.43MX$180
8.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33CHF 1.88
$1.66MX$28.68
40.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24CHF 2.62
$2.61MX$45.19
24.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Glattfelden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.80CHF 3.07
$0.54MX$9.37
603.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$97.1CHF 78.4
$26.16MX$453
271.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.06CHF 6.51
$3.08MX$53.3
161.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.29CHF 3.46
$2.40MX$41.61
78.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$80.6CHF 65.1
$3.13MX$54.1
2476.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.14CHF 1.73
$1.31MX$22.69
63.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.6KCHF 32.7K
$29.8KMX$515.7K
36.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.0KCHF 33.9K
$23.3KMX$403.5K
80.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Glattfelden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$260CHF 210
$81.3MX$1,406
220.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.95CHF 38.69
$22.56MX$390
112.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.8CHF 47.41
$30.05MX$520
95.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Glattfelden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$88.3CHF 71.2
$52.9MX$915
66.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$44.37CHF 35.81
$18.39MX$318
141.27%
Cinema Ticket
$23.07CHF 18.61
$4.92MX$85.1
368.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Glattfelden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,872CHF 2,318
$201MX$3,474
1330.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$34.6KCHF 27.9K
$5,175MX$89.5K
568.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Glattfelden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$138CHF 111
$35.92MX$622
283.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$67.4CHF 54.4
$40.13MX$694
67.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$145CHF 117
$79.7MX$1,379
82.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$187CHF 151
$86.5MX$1,496
115.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Glattfelden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,724CHF 1,391
$978MX$16.9K
76.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,471CHF 1,187
$470MX$8,140
212.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,811CHF 2,268
$1,651MX$28.6K
70.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,438CHF 1,967
$1,203MX$20.8K
102.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$14.1KCHF 11.4K
$3,953MX$68.4K
256.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$13.4KCHF 10.8K
$6,607MX$114.3K
103.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Glattfelden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,413CHF 4,368
$677MX$11.7K
699.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.5
11.42
-78.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Glattfelden: July 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,724 in Glattfelden versus $978 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 700% higher in Glattfelden, 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 Glattfelden versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $654 vs $252 – 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
Glattfelden vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Glattfelden or Playa del Carmen?
Glattfelden costs about 172% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Glattfelden and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,149 per month in Glattfelden and $1,890 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Glattfelden or 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.
How do dining costs compare in Glattfelden and in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $141 in Glattfelden and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Glattfelden compared to Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,433 in Glattfelden and $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Glattfelden or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,260, than in Glattfelden at $3,433. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Glattfelden it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Glattfelden or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,260 versus $3,433 in Glattfelden. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Glattfelden compared to 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.
Should I move to Glattfelden or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Glattfelden makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Glattfelden vs other spots: cost of living compared