πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $3,169 in Martigny versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $4,887 in Martigny versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,606 in Martigny versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
πLiving in Martigny is roughly 149% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Martigny is 136% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Martigny
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.07CHFΒ 24.67
$11.87MX$204
161.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$129CHFΒ 102
$42.90MX$736
199.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.15CHFΒ 14.41
$10.65MX$183
70.42%
Cappuccino
$4.33CHFΒ 3.44
$3.45MX$59.2
25.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93CHFΒ 3.92
$1.50MX$25.81
228.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.01CHFΒ 3.18
$0.95MX$16.28
322.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.58CHFΒ 6.02
$3.03MX$51.9
150.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.31CHFΒ 5.80
$4.61MX$79.1
58.57%
π Groceries & Markets
Martigny
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.27CHFΒ 1.80
$1.38MX$23.61
64.49%
White Bread(500g)
$3.63CHFΒ 2.88
$1.85MX$31.70
96.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.80CHFΒ 3.81
$1.61MX$27.65
198.14%
Eggs
$6.96CHFΒ 5.52
$2.59MX$44.51
168.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$27.13CHFΒ 21.54
$8.26MX$142
228.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$22.46CHFΒ 17.83
$8.37MX$144
168.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$35.54CHFΒ 28.22
$10.66MX$183
233.40%
Apples(1kg)
$3.21CHFΒ 2.55
$2.63MX$45.12
22.05%
Banana(1kg)
$2.00CHFΒ 1.59
$1.49MX$25.53
34.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.61CHFΒ 2.07
$1.92MX$32.94
35.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$7.50CHFΒ 5.95
$2.09MX$35.81
258.85%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21CHFΒ 1.76
$1.86MX$31.88
18.82%
Onion(1kg)
$2.24CHFΒ 1.78
$2.26MX$38.81
-0.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.62CHFΒ 2.08
$1.06MX$18.23
147.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35CHFΒ 0.28
$1.09MX$18.67
-67.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.05CHFΒ 8.77
$4.15MX$71.2
166.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.52CHFΒ 9.94
$10.39MX$178
20.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.63CHFΒ 2.09
$1.72MX$29.59
52.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.21CHFΒ 3.34
$2.61MX$44.85
61.30%
π Getting Around
Martigny
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.01CHFΒ 3.19
$0.54MX$9.30
642.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$100CHFΒ 79.5
$26.94MX$462
271.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.71CHFΒ 5.33
$3.13MX$53.7
114.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.37CHFΒ 3.47
$2.51MX$43.09
74.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.5CHFΒ 48.79
$3.15MX$54.1
1851.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.13CHFΒ 1.69
$1.27MX$21.88
67.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.8KCHFΒ 31.6K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
31.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.8KCHFΒ 30.0K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
60.22%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Martigny
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125CHFΒ 99.1
$83.0MX$1,425
50.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$72.2CHFΒ 57.3
$22.71MX$390
218.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.1CHFΒ 42.94
$29.46MX$506
83.57%
π Sport & Entertainment
Martigny
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$87.4CHFΒ 69.4
$51.0MX$875
71.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$43.55CHFΒ 34.58
$18.33MX$315
137.59%
Cinema Ticket
$18.70CHFΒ 14.84
$4.93MX$84.5
279.31%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Martigny
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,251CHFΒ 993
$197MX$3,386
533.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$34.8KCHFΒ 27.7K
$5,280MX$90.6K
559.72%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Martigny
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$123CHFΒ 97.6
$36.90MX$633
233.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.11CHFΒ 38.19
$39.89MX$685
20.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$134CHFΒ 106
$80.0MX$1,373
67.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$151CHFΒ 120
$89.5MX$1,536
69.23%
π Accommodation & Living
Martigny
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,704CHFΒ 1,353
$956MX$16.4K
78.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,427CHFΒ 1,133
$477MX$8,189
199.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,783CHFΒ 2,210
$1,646MX$28.3K
69.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,454CHFΒ 1,948
$1,225MX$21.0K
100.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$17.8KCHFΒ 14.2K
$3,918MX$67.2K
355.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$10.3KCHFΒ 8,203
$6,459MX$110.9K
59.97%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Martigny
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$667MX$11.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.5
11.42
-78.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Martigny: June 7, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,704 in Martigny and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $129 in Martigny vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $555 vs $250 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
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
Martigny vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Martigny or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost β living expenses run 149% lower than in Martigny. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Martigny vs Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $4,753 in Martigny and $1,906 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Martigny vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,704 in Martigny versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Martigny or Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 122% higher in Martigny. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Martigny vs Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen β a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $129 in Martigny. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Martigny or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,169 in Martigny, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Martigny. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Martigny or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $1,271 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet β expenses run 149% less than in Martigny. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.