😐A single person spends $3,533 per month in Glattfelden vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,406 per month in Glattfelden vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $7,278 per month in Glattfelden vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Glattfelden costs about 175% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Glattfelden sits 164% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Glattfelden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.65CHF 24.24
$11.94MX$209
156.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144CHF 114
$42.75MX$748
236.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.43CHF 14.58
$10.59MX$185
74.03%
Cappuccino
$5.84CHF 4.62
$3.62MX$63.4
61.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.36CHF 4.24
$1.47MX$25.69
264.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.78CHF 3.78
$0.94MX$16.51
408.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.39CHF 6.64
$3.09MX$54.1
171.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.53CHF 5.96
$4.46MX$78.0
68.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Glattfelden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.24CHF 1.77
$1.43MX$24.94
56.64%
White Bread(500g)
$3.46CHF 2.74
$1.88MX$32.97
84.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.19CHF 3.32
$1.63MX$28.50
157.06%
Eggs
$7.43CHF 5.88
$2.64MX$46.26
181.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$28.68CHF 22.68
$8.21MX$144
249.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$34.08CHF 26.96
$8.29MX$145
311.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$48.17CHF 38.10
$11.10MX$194
333.96%
Apples(1kg)
$3.80CHF 3.01
$2.65MX$46.40
43.40%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23CHF 1.76
$1.50MX$26.26
48.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.99CHF 2.36
$1.99MX$34.79
50.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.35CHF 5.03
$2.08MX$36.33
205.29%
Potato(1kg)
$2.41CHF 1.91
$1.79MX$31.29
34.64%
Onion(1kg)
$2.44CHF 1.93
$2.18MX$38.09
11.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.62CHF 2.07
$1.08MX$18.84
142.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36CHF 1.08
$1.04MX$18.15
30.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.97CHF 8.68
$3.97MX$69.5
176.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.11CHF 11.16
$10.20MX$179
38.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.46CHF 1.95
$1.73MX$30.22
42.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37CHF 2.67
$2.50MX$43.71
34.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Glattfelden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.83CHF 3.03
$0.52MX$9.07
636.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$96.8CHF 76.6
$26.97MX$472
258.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.70CHF 6.09
$3.14MX$55.0
145.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.12CHF 3.26
$2.40MX$42.04
71.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$81.2CHF 64.2
$3.09MX$54.0
2527.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.19CHF 1.73
$1.27MX$22.28
72.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.9KCHF 32.4K
$30.9KMX$540.4K
32.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.7KCHF 32.2K
$23.3KMX$408.0K
74.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Glattfelden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$264CHF 209
$82.0MX$1,435
222.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.00CHF 38.76
$22.45MX$393
118.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.5CHF 45.51
$29.66MX$519
93.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Glattfelden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$87.2CHF 69.0
$51.9MX$908
68.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.67MX$327
-
Cinema Ticket
$22.74CHF 17.99
$4.97MX$87.0
357.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Glattfelden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,844CHF 2,249
$198MX$3,462
1337.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$35.2KCHF 27.8K
$5,273MX$92.3K
566.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Glattfelden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$140CHF 111
$36.34MX$636
284.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.6CHF 52.7
$40.05MX$701
66.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$150CHF 119
$79.9MX$1,398
87.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$188CHF 149
$88.9MX$1,555
111.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Glattfelden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,679CHF 1,328
$963MX$16.9K
74.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,439CHF 1,138
$465MX$8,133
209.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,824CHF 2,234
$1,596MX$27.9K
76.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,444CHF 1,933
$1,209MX$21.2K
102.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$14.1KCHF 11.2K
$3,942MX$69.0K
258.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$11.0KCHF 8,666
$6,448MX$112.8K
69.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Glattfelden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,786CHF 4,577
$720MX$12.6K
703.16%
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,679 in Glattfelden versus $963 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 703% 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 $144 in Glattfelden versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $667 vs $251 – 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 175% 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,300 per month in Glattfelden and $1,930 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $144 in Glattfelden and $43.00 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 $3,533 in Glattfelden and $1,287 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 Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Glattfelden at $3,533. 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 $1,287 versus $3,533 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 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