Cost of Living Comparison Between Lugano and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Lugano and Playa del Carmen

😐 Solo nomad: Lugano is 141.7% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 152.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Lugano is 157% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 149.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lugano
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.61 CHF 23.85
$11.85 MX$205
158.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$181 CHF 141
$42.16 MX$730
329.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$18.58 CHF 14.47
$10.75 MX$186
72.84%
Cappuccino
$4.48 CHF 3.49
$3.47 MX$60.2
29.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.75 CHF 3.70
$1.45 MX$25.17
227.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02 CHF 3.13
$0.90 MX$15.64
346.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.53 CHF 5.87
$3.05 MX$52.9
146.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.26 CHF 5.65
$4.42 MX$76.5
64.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lugano
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.25 CHF 1.76
$1.37 MX$23.72
64.23%
White Bread (500g)
$3.48 CHF 2.71
$1.87 MX$32.43
86.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.91 CHF 3.82
$1.54 MX$26.74
218.83%
Eggs
$6.97 CHF 5.43
$2.50 MX$43.36
178.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$26.82 CHF 20.89
$8.61 MX$149
211.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$36.39 CHF 28.35
$8.63 MX$150
321.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$46.96 CHF 36.59
$11.02 MX$191
326.13%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 CHF 2.44
$2.75 MX$47.62
14.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.97 CHF 1.53
$1.43 MX$24.73
37.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.60 CHF 2.02
$1.87 MX$32.44
39.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.60 CHF 5.92
$2.17 MX$37.54
250.23%
Potato (1kg)
$2.28 CHF 1.78
$1.88 MX$32.61
21.28%
Onion (1kg)
$2.22 CHF 1.73
$2.25 MX$38.91
-1.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.58 CHF 2.01
$1.07 MX$18.49
141.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 CHF 0.96
$1.07 MX$18.59
15.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.80 CHF 8.41
$4.15 MX$72.0
160.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.06 CHF 10.18
$10.34 MX$179
26.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.65 CHF 2.06
$1.68 MX$29.08
57.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.15 CHF 3.24
$2.48 MX$43.02
67.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Lugano
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.15 CHF 2.46
$0.55 MX$9.61
472.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$87.7 CHF 68.3
$26.53 MX$459
230.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.79 CHF 5.29
$3.22 MX$55.7
110.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.40 CHF 3.43
$2.48 MX$42.98
77.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$62.1 CHF 48.39
$3.11 MX$53.9
1897.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.14 CHF 1.67
$1.26 MX$21.75
69.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.3K CHF 31.4K
$30.7K MX$531.0K
31.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.7K CHF 29.4K
$24.0K MX$416.4K
56.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lugano
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$203 CHF 158
$82.5 MX$1,429
146.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$71.9 CHF 56.0
$22.29 MX$386
222.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.8 CHF 41.87
$30.02 MX$520
79.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lugano
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$107 CHF 83.3
$51.4 MX$891
107.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$62.7 CHF 48.81
$18.29 MX$317
242.59%
Cinema Ticket
$18.33 CHF 14.28
$4.98 MX$86.3
268.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lugano
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,230 CHF 958
$200 MX$3,464
514.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$35.5K CHF 27.7K
$5,304 MX$91.9K
569.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lugano
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$123 CHF 95.9
$35.71 MX$618
244.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.97 CHF 37.37
$39.56 MX$685
21.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$133 CHF 103
$80.6 MX$1,395
64.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152 CHF 118
$88.3 MX$1,530
72.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lugano
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,686 CHF 1,314
$969 MX$16.8K
73.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,249 CHF 973
$482 MX$8,352
159.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,789 CHF 2,173
$1,595 MX$27.6K
74.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,654 CHF 2,067
$1,184 MX$20.5K
124.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$17.7K CHF 13.8K
$4,050 MX$70.1K
336.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$13.3K CHF 10.4K
$6,522 MX$113.0K
104.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lugano
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,824 CHF 5,316
$756 MX$13.1K
802.26%
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 Lugano: February 28, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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