😐A single person spends $3,445 per month in Glattfelden vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,288 per month in Glattfelden vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $7,131 per month in Glattfelden vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Glattfelden costs about 171% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Glattfelden sits 156% 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
$30.54CHF 24.25
$11.87MX$204
157.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$141CHF 112
$42.90MX$736
228.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.54CHF 14.72
$10.65MX$183
74.08%
Cappuccino
$6.10CHF 4.84
$3.45MX$59.2
76.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.40CHF 4.29
$1.50MX$25.81
260.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.92CHF 3.90
$0.95MX$16.28
417.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.21CHF 6.52
$3.03MX$51.9
170.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.55CHF 6.00
$4.61MX$79.1
63.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Glattfelden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15CHF 1.71
$1.38MX$23.61
55.80%
White Bread(500g)
$3.57CHF 2.83
$1.85MX$31.70
92.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.13CHF 3.28
$1.61MX$27.65
156.52%
Eggs
$7.49CHF 5.94
$2.59MX$44.51
189.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$29.28CHF 23.24
$8.26MX$142
254.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$33.92CHF 26.93
$8.37MX$144
305.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$47.34CHF 37.58
$10.66MX$183
344.09%
Apples(1kg)
$3.82CHF 3.04
$2.63MX$45.12
45.25%
Banana(1kg)
$2.22CHF 1.77
$1.49MX$25.53
48.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.99CHF 2.37
$1.92MX$32.94
55.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.15CHF 4.89
$2.09MX$35.81
194.26%
Potato(1kg)
$2.50CHF 1.99
$1.86MX$31.88
34.41%
Onion(1kg)
$2.43CHF 1.93
$2.26MX$38.81
7.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.51CHF 2.00
$1.06MX$18.23
136.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34CHF 1.06
$1.09MX$18.67
22.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.93CHF 8.67
$4.15MX$71.2
163.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.42CHF 10.66
$10.39MX$178
29.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.38CHF 1.89
$1.72MX$29.59
38.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33CHF 2.64
$2.61MX$44.85
27.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Glattfelden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.01CHF 3.19
$0.54MX$9.30
642.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$99.3CHF 78.9
$26.94MX$462
268.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.77CHF 6.17
$3.13MX$53.7
148.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.22CHF 3.35
$2.51MX$43.09
68.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$80.1CHF 63.6
$3.15MX$54.1
2443.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.17CHF 1.72
$1.27MX$21.88
70.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.7KCHF 32.3K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
34.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.5KCHF 32.9K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
76.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Glattfelden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$258CHF 205
$83.0MX$1,425
210.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.65CHF 38.63
$22.71MX$390
114.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.8CHF 46.66
$29.46MX$506
99.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Glattfelden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$87.1CHF 69.1
$51.0MX$875
70.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.33MX$315
-
Cinema Ticket
$22.37CHF 17.76
$4.93MX$84.5
353.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Glattfelden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,902CHF 2,304
$197MX$3,386
1370.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$35.1KCHF 27.9K
$5,280MX$90.6K
565.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Glattfelden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$138CHF 110
$36.90MX$633
273.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$69.0CHF 54.8
$39.89MX$685
72.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$151CHF 120
$80.0MX$1,373
89.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$185CHF 147
$89.5MX$1,536
107.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Glattfelden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,695CHF 1,345
$956MX$16.4K
77.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,486CHF 1,180
$477MX$8,189
211.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,813CHF 2,234
$1,646MX$28.3K
70.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,417CHF 1,918
$1,225MX$21.0K
97.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$18.6KCHF 14.8K
$3,918MX$67.2K
374.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$10.9KCHF 8,630
$6,459MX$110.9K
68.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Glattfelden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,595CHF 4,442
$667MX$11.4K
738.91%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,695 in Glattfelden versus $956 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 739% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $662 vs $250 – 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 171% 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 $5,167 per month in Glattfelden and $1,906 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 $141 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 $3,445 in Glattfelden and $1,271 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 $1,271, than in Glattfelden at $3,445. 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 $1,271 versus $3,445 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